title: Mental health and cerebellar volume during adolescence in very-low-birth-weight infants: a longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preterm birth at very low birth weight (VLBW) poses a risk for cerebellar abnormalities and increased psychiatric morbidity compared with reference populations. We aimed to study cerebellar volumes (grey and white matter; GM, WM) and mental health in VLBW individuals and controls at 15 and 19 years of age, as well as changes between the two time points.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty VLBW (≤1500 g) and 56 control adolescents were included in the study at 15 years of age, and 44 VLBW and 60 control adolescents at 19 years of age. We had longitudinal data for 30 VLBW participants and for 37 controls. Clinical diagnoses were assessed following the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children (KSADS). Psychiatric symptoms and function were further investigated with the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA), ADHD Rating Scale-IV and the children's global assessment scale (CGAS). An automatic segmentation of cerebellar GM and WM volumes was performed in FreeSurfer. The MRI scans were obtained on the same 1.5T scanner at both ages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VLBW group had higher rates of psychiatric disorders at both ages. Cerebellar growth trajectories did not differ between VLBW adolescents and controls, regardless of psychiatric status. However, VLBW adolescents who had a psychiatric diagnosis at both ages or developed a psychiatric disorder from 15 to 19 years had maintained smaller cerebellar WM and GM volumes than controls and also smaller volumes than VLWB adolescents who were or became healthy in this period. Moreover, there were no differences in cerebellar WM and GM volumes between controls and those VLBW who were healthy or became healthy. In the VLBW group, cerebellar WM and GM volumes correlated positively with psycho-social function at both 15 and 19 years of age, and smaller GM volumes were associated with inattention at 15 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smaller cerebellar volume in adolescents born very preterm and with VLBW may be a biomarker of increased risk of psychiatric problems in young adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Technology Research Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 8905, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Violeta L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Botellero
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Technology Research Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 8905, 7491 Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skranes
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Technology Research Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 8905, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut Jørgen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bjuland
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Technology Research Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 8905, 7491 Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway.
authors.forename: Gro C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Løhaugen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Medical Imaging, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Asta Kristine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Håberg
authors.affiliation: Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Stian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lydersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Technology Research Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 8905, 7491 Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Pediatrics, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Ann-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brubakk
authors.affiliation: Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Indredavik
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Technology Research Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 8905, 7491 Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinussen
keywords: Cerebellum; MRI; Mental health; Preterm; Psychiatric disorders; Very low birth weight