title: Measurement of neonatal abstinence syndrome: Evaluation of short forms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  1) How well do the short forms previously developed from the Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research (MOTHER) neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) scale (MNS) discriminate between neonates untreated and treated for NAS? (2) Can a short form be developed that is superior to other short forms in discriminating between the two groups?
  
  
  METHODS
  This secondary analysis study used data from 131 delivered neonates in the MOTHER study, a randomized controlled trial comparing neonatal and maternal outcomes in opioid-dependent pregnant women administered buprenorphine or methadone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comprehensive care was provided at seven university hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 19-item instrument measuring neonatal abstinence signs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A five-item index proved superior to the previous indices (ps < 0.01) and discriminated between the treated and untreated NAS groups as well as did the MNS total score (p=0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short form developed from the MNS shows promise as a possible screening measure.
authors.affiliation: Executive Director, UNC Horizons, and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Adjunct Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Hendrée E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seashore
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Therapist, UNC Horizons, Clinical Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Evette
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland.
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.affiliation: Director of Research and Evaluation, UNC Horizons, Research Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andringa
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic