Obstetric complications and mild to moderate intellectual disability.
BACKGROUND
Mild to moderate intellectual disability affects 2.5% of the general population and is associated with an increased risk of several psychiatric disorders. Most cases are of unknown aetiology although genetic factors have an important role.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of obstetric and neonatal complications in the aetiology of mild to moderate intellectual disability.


METHODS
Obstetric and neonatal complications recorded at the time of pregnancy and delivery were compared between participants with mild to moderate intellectual disability, age-matched siblings and unrelated controls using logistic regression.


RESULTS
Admission to a special care baby unit and not being breastfed on discharge were more common in people with mild to moderate intellectual disability. Not being breastfed on discharge was also more common in those with intellectual disability than unaffected siblings. Foetal distress was more common among controls than among those with mild to moderate intellectual disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Admission to a special care baby unit and not being breastfed on discharge may be related to the aetiology of intellectual disability, although the direction of this association is unclear.
Sussmann
Jessika E
JE
Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK. jess.sussmann@ed.ac.uk
McIntosh
Andrew M
AM
Lawrie
Stephen M
SM
Johnstone
Eve C
EC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007360:Intelligence; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult