Evaluation of psychopathological conditions in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the prevalence of psychopathological conditions in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (N = 39) and nonexposed, typically developing peers (N = 30), matched with respect to age, gender, and socioeconomic status.


METHODS
Caregivers were interviewed with either the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Present and Lifetime Version, or the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Version IV. Statistical resampling methods were used to create 95% confidence intervals for the difference between the proportions of children with psychopathological conditions in the exposed and control groups.


RESULTS
Group differences were seen in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depressive disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and specific phobia outcome categories. The group difference in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder category was by far the largest effect observed.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that fetal alcohol exposure should be considered a possible factor in the pathogenesis of childhood psychiatric disorders. These data provide clinically relevant information about the mental health problems that children with fetal alcohol exposure are likely to face.
Fryer
Susanna L
SL
San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, USA.
McGee
Christie L
CL
Matt
Georg E
GE
Riley
Edward P
EP
Mattson
Sarah N
SN
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors