Subina Upadhyaya1, Roshan Chudal1, Terhi Luntamo1, Susanna Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki1, Minna Sucksdorff1, Liisa Lehtonen2,3, Andre Sourander1,4,5. 1. Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 2. Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. 3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 4. Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. 5. INVEST Research Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Abstract
AIM: To examine the association between several perinatal and obstetric risk factors and reactive attachment disorder in children diagnosed in specialised services. METHODS: In this nested case-control study, 614 cases with reactive attachment disorder and 2423 controls matched with age and sex were identified from Finnish national registers. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the association between a number of perinatal risk factors and reactive attachment disorder. RESULTS: In the adjusted analysis, a low birthweight of <2500 g was associated with an increased odds of reactive attachment disorder, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.96 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.17, 3.30 and a birthweight of 4000-4499 grams was associated with decreased odds OR 0.49 (95% CI 0.31, 0.75). The odds for being diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder increased with a gestational age of <32 weeks OR 3.72 (95% CI 1.52, 9.10), induced labour OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.03, 1.75) and monitoring in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) OR 1.67 (95% CI 1.09, 2.55). CONCLUSION: We found associations between low birthweight, preterm birth, NICU admission and reactive attachment disorder. The findings add to the current literature on the understanding of the development of reactive attachment disorder in children.
AIM: To examine the association between several perinatal and obstetric risk factors and reactive attachment disorder in children diagnosed in specialised services. METHODS: In this nested case-control study, 614 cases with reactive attachment disorder and 2423 controls matched with age and sex were identified from Finnish national registers. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the association between a number of perinatal risk factors and reactive attachment disorder. RESULTS: In the adjusted analysis, a low birthweight of <2500 g was associated with an increased odds of reactive attachment disorder, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.96 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.17, 3.30 and a birthweight of 4000-4499 grams was associated with decreased odds OR 0.49 (95% CI 0.31, 0.75). The odds for being diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder increased with a gestational age of <32 weeks OR 3.72 (95% CI 1.52, 9.10), induced labour OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.03, 1.75) and monitoring in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) OR 1.67 (95% CI 1.09, 2.55). CONCLUSION: We found associations between low birthweight, preterm birth, NICU admission and reactive attachment disorder. The findings add to the current literature on the understanding of the development of reactive attachment disorder in children.