[Postpartum risk factors in the development of children born to opiate-addicted mothers; comparison between mothers with and without methadone substitution].
In a retrospective case control study at the University of Frankfurt, Germany, 101 babies born to opiate-addicted mothers were identified from birth charts from 1988 to 1995. After birth, they developed a withdrawal syndrome (neonatal abstinence syndrome). Fifty control infants and their mothers were selected from neonatal wards. The group of opiate-exposed babies was subdivided into a group born to mothers without methadone treatment (n = 48) and a group born to mothers who were enrolled in a methadone program (n = 51). The methadone infants had a significantly higher mean birth weight (2822 g) than children in the group without methadone (2471 g). The abstinence syndrome was much more intense in the methadone group (convulsions 47.1%) than in heroin-exposed babies without methadone treatment (convulsions 27.1%). Women in methadone maintenance programs lived in more stable socioeconomic conditions than opiate-addicted women without methadone substitution. Moreover, they cared significantly better for their babies: 81.3% of the methadone mothers visited their children on a regular basis and 90.9% cared adequately. The data emphasize the need in future research to look more closely at the role of methadone treatment programs in the development of opiate-exposed babies.
Ziegler
M
M
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M. eenglert@klinikum-erfurt.de
Poustka
F
F
von Loewenich
V
V
Englert
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone