Adult psychiatric outcomes of very low birth weight survivors.
BACKGROUND
Childhood studies have identified relationships between low birth weight and a variety of psychological disorders. However, very few studies have prospectively followed VLBW survivors into adulthood and none have examined adult psychiatric disorders in this population.


OBJECTIVE
This exploratory study sought to determine the rates and nature of psychiatric disorders in very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g) adults.


METHODS
117 VLBW participants and 32 normal birth weight (NBW, birth weight > 2499 g) controls, born 1977-1982, were assessed in early adulthood (24-29 years). Participants were first screened for psychopathology using the Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90-R). Participants who were elevated on this measure were eligible for a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID-I/NP) to determine a formal psychiatric diagnosis.


RESULTS
VLBW adults were more likely than controls to be elevated on the Global Severity Index (odds ratio (OR) = 4.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.96, 19.14) and the depression (OR = 5.17, 95%CI = 1.17, 23.00), paranoid ideation (OR = 4.08, 95%CI = 0.91, 18.23), hostility (relative risk (RR) = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.21, 1.49), and interpersonal sensitivity (OR = 3.80, 95%CI = 1.08, 13.32) subscales of the SCL-90-R. VLBW adults were also more likely to be diagnosed with a current mood disorder than NBW adults (RR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.22, 1.51).


CONCLUSIONS
VLBW adults are at greater risk of psychopathology than NBW peers.
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. ewestrupp@parentingrc.org.au
Elizabeth M
EM
Westrupp
Elisabeth
E
Northam
Lex W
LW
Doyle
Catherine
C
Callanan
Peter J
PJ
Anderson
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*