The Relationship Between Early Term Birth and the Risk of Later Childhood Mental Disorders Within a Pregnancy Cohort.

This study examines whether gestational age, birth weight, and early term birth is associated with childhood mental disorders in 342 pregnant women recruited at less than 20 weeks gestation and were then followed up until 4 years postpartum, including 93 children born at early term. Women were assessed at recruitment using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM. At 4 years of age their children were assessed using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). This study found earlier birth predicted an increased risk for anxiety disorders and demonstrated a significant interaction between gestational age and lower birthweight. The risk for ADHD increased with lower gestational age independent of birthweight. In contrast, gestational age was not associated with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, internalizing or externalizing symptoms. These findings highlight the important differences in the association of early term birth and vulnerability for specific mental disorders.