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


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show a relationship between being born SGA and later psychiatric hospitalization, where preterm birth and male gender seem to increase the risk.
Monfils Gustafsson
W
W
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Josefsson
A
A
Ekholm Selling
K
K
Sydsjö
G
G
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult