title: Comparison of 12-year-old children with prenatal exposure to cocaine and non-exposed controls on caregiver ratings of executive function.
abstract: Differences in caregiver reported executive function in 12-year-old children who were prenatally exposed to cocaine (PCE) compared to children who were not prenatally exposed to cocaine (NCE) were assessed. One hundred and sixty-nine PCE and 169 NCE, primarily African-American, low socioeconomic status children participated in a prospective longitudinal study. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) Parent Form was administered. Two broadband BRIEF scores (Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI) and Metacognition Index (MI)) and a summary Global Executive Composite (GEC) were computed. Multiple and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the effects of amount of PCE on executive function, controlling for covariates including caregiver (rater) psychological distress, child's gender and other prenatal drug exposure variables. After adjustment for covariates, amount of PCE was associated with the GEC and two MI subscales, Plan/Organize and Monitor, with heavier exposure associated with more problems of executive function. An amount of PCE by gender interaction revealed amount of PCE effects in other remaining subscales of the MI (Initiate, Working Memory, and Organization of Materials) only among girls. Head circumference did not mediate the effects of cocaine on outcomes. Higher current caregiver psychological distress levels were independently associated with poorer ratings on the executive function scales. Assessment and targeted interventions to improve metacognitive processes are recommended for girls who were prenatally exposed to cocaine.
authors: Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA, Sonia.Minnes@case.edu.
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Minnes
authors: Lynn T
authors: LT
authors: Singer
authors: Meeyoung O
authors: MO
authors: Min
authors: Adelaide M
authors: AM
authors: Lang
authors: Aya
authors: A
authors: Ben-Harush
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Short
authors: Miaoping
authors: M
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000633:toxicity*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003042:Cocaine