Development of psychopathology of children with the fetal alcohol syndrome.
Extended psychiatric and pediatric examinations were performed on patients with the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). A subgroup of these patients underwent psychological testing to measure intelligence, visual perception, and psycholinguistic abilities. Psychopathology was also studied in a matched control group. The investigation revealed a broad scale of developmental hazards and psychopathologic symptoms indicating the negative long-range effects of alcohol abuse during pregnancy. The extent of morphologic damage was found to be a good predictor of psychopathology and mental impairment. Social environment and socioeconomic status appear less important as predictors.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007360:Intelligence; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012931:Social Environment; D014796:Visual Perception