title: Prenatal exposure to methadone and buprenorphine: a review of the potential effects on cognitive development.
abstract: The amount of opioid users receiving opioid maintenance therapy has increased significantly over the last few years. As a result, an increasing number of children are prenatally exposed to long-lasting opioids such as methadone and buprenorphine. This article reviews the literature on the cognitive development of children born to mothers in opioid maintenance therapy. Topics discussed are the effects of prenatal exposure on prematurity, somatic growth, brain volume, myelination, and the endocrine and neurotransmitter system. Social-environmental factors, including parental functioning, as well as genetic factors are also described. Areas requiring further research are identified.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. carolien.konijnenberg@psykologi.uio.no
authors.forename: Carolien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Konijnenberg
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melinder
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone