Preterm birth or foetal growth impairment and psychiatric hospitalization in adolescence and early adulthood in a Swedish population-based birth cohort

• Published in: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2009-01, Vol.119 (1), p.54-61
• Main Authors: Monfils Gustafsson, W., Josefsson, A., Ekholm Selling, K., Sydsjö, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment Disorders - epidemiology; Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; birth characteristics; Birth weight; Cohort Studies; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - epidemiology; Gender differences; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; hospitalization; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases - epidemiology; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; mental illness; Miscellaneous; Mood Disorders - epidemiology; Patient Admission - statistics & numerical data; Personality Disorders - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Premature birth; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology; Registries - statistics & numerical data; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Statistics as Topic; Sweden; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 1600-0447; 1600-0447; 0065-1591
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01267.x

Objective:  Preterm birth and restricted foetal growth are related to symptoms of psychiatric disorder. Our aim was therefore to investigate possible relations between being born preterm and/or small for gestational age (SGA) and later psychiatric hospitalization. Method:  A population‐based registry study of psychiatric hospitalization of in total 155 994 boys and 148 281 girls born in Sweden in 1973–1975. Results:  The risk of hospitalization for all mental disorders was increased for preterm SGA boys (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.49–3.21); at‐term SGA boys (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.34–1.79); at‐term SGA girls (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.15–1.50). At‐term SGA boys and girls suffered increased risk of anxiety and adjustment disorders (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.18–2.45 and OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.14–1.94). Preterm SGA boys were at risk of personality disorders (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.16–9.41) and psychotic disorders (OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.85–10.30). Conclusion:  The results show a relationship between being born SGA and later psychiatric hospitalization, where preterm birth and male gender seem to increase the risk.