Is the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) effective for preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction?
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the effectiveness of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) on neurobehavioral and electrophysiological functioning of preterm infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).


METHODS
Thirty IUGR infants, 28 to 33 weeks gestational age, randomized to standard care (control/C=18), or NIDCAP (experimental/E=12), were assessed at 2 weeks corrected age (2wCA) and 9 months corrected age (9mCA) in regard to health, anthropometrics, and neurobehavior, and additionally at 2wCA in regard to electrophysiology (EEG).


RESULTS
The two groups were comparable in health and anthropometrics at 2wCA and 9mCA. The E-group at 2wCA showed significantly better autonomic, motor, and self-regulation functioning, improved motility, intensity and response thresholds, and reduced EEG connectivity among several adjacent brain regions. At 9mCA, the E-group showed significantly better mental performance.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to show NIDCAP effectiveness for IUGR preterm infants.
Als
H
H
Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115 USA. heidelise.als@childrens.harvard.edu
Duffy
F H
FH
McAnulty
G B
GB
Fischer
C B
CB
Kosta
S
S
Butler
S C
SC
Parad
R B
RB
Blickman
J G
JG
Zurakowski
D
D
Ringer
S A
SA
D000886:Anthropometry; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D002657:Child Development; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D059039:Standard of Care