title: Psychomotor development of children born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and parental stress evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing number of children conceived following preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) necessitates the evaluation of their motor and cognitive development. The primary study objective was to evaluate the physical, developmental, and neurological outcome of children born after PGD in Greece. In addition, the secondary study objective was to compare the stress levels regarding parental roles between parents of PGD children and those of naturally conceived children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study design was applied. The study population consisted of 31 children (aged 2 months to 7.5 years) born after PGD analysis and their parents. The developmental evaluation of children included a detailed physical evaluation and cognitive assessment with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The parent stress index was applied to evaluate comparative parental stress levels between those parents of PGD children and those of naturally conceived healthy children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High rates of caesarean deliveries, increased incidence of prematurity, multiples and low-birth weight were observed among the 31 PGD children. Overall, 24 of the 31 PGD children had cognitive skills within normal range [general developmental quotient (GDQ): 86-115], while 6 children had lower levels of cognitive skills (GDQ<85). With regard to parental stress, PGD parents reported lower levels of parenting stress as compared to parents of naturally conceived children (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The enhanced frequency of poor cognitive and motor skills as well as low parental stress necessitates early detection and intervention for developmental delays among PGD children.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Assessment Unit, Second Department of Pediatrics, P. & A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. dr_thomaidis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomaidis
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitsiou-Tzeli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Critselis
authors.forename: Hera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drandakis
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Touliatou
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mantoudis
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leze
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Destouni
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Traeger-Synodinos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kafetzis
authors.forename: Emmanouel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanavakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D019836:Preimplantation Diagnosis; D013315:Stress, Psychological