Elaine K Chu1, Lynne M Smith2, Chris Derauf3, Elana Newman4, Charles R Neal5, Amelia M Arria6, Marilyn A Huestis7, Sheri A DellaGrotta8, Mary B Roberts8, Lynne M Dansereau8, Barry M Lester8. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; smith@lundquist.org. 3. Division of Community and Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. 4. Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii. 6. Department of Family Science and Center on Young Adult Health and Development, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. 7. Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland; and. 8. Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effects of in utero methamphetamine exposure on behavioral problems in school-aged children are unclear. Our objective for this study was to evaluate behavior problems in children at aged 3, 5, and 7.5 years who were prenatally exposed to methamphetamine. METHODS: Subjects were enrolled in the Infant Development, Environment, and Lifestyle study, a longitudinal prospective study of prenatal methamphetamine exposure and child outcomes. Exposed and comparison groups were matched on birth weight, race, education, and health insurance. At ages 3, 5, and 7.5 years, 339 children (171 exposed) were assessed for behavior problems by using the Child Behavior Checklist. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure, age, and the interaction of exposure and age on behavior problems. Caregiver psychological symptoms were assessed by using the Brief Symptom Inventory. RESULTS: Analyses adjusted for covariates revealed that relative to age 3, children at 5 years had less externalizing and aggressive behavior and more internalizing behavior, somatic complaints, and withdrawn behavior. By age 7.5, aggressive behavior continued to decrease, attention problems increased and withdrawn behavior decreased. There were no main effects for methamphetamine exposure and no interactions of exposure and age. Caregiver psychological symptoms predicted all behavior problems and the quality of the home predicted externalizing problems and externalizing syndrome scores. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral effects longitudinally from ages 3 to 7.5 years were not associated with prenatal methamphetamine exposure, whereas caregiver psychological symptoms and the quality of the home were predictors of behavior problems.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effects of in utero methamphetamine exposure on behavioral problems in school-aged children are unclear. Our objective for this study was to evaluate behavior problems in children at aged 3, 5, and 7.5 years who were prenatally exposed to methamphetamine. METHODS: Subjects were enrolled in the Infant Development, Environment, and Lifestyle study, a longitudinal prospective study of prenatal methamphetamine exposure and child outcomes. Exposed and comparison groups were matched on birth weight, race, education, and health insurance. At ages 3, 5, and 7.5 years, 339 children (171 exposed) were assessed for behavior problems by using the Child Behavior Checklist. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure, age, and the interaction of exposure and age on behavior problems. Caregiver psychological symptoms were assessed by using the Brief Symptom Inventory. RESULTS: Analyses adjusted for covariates revealed that relative to age 3, children at 5 years had less externalizing and aggressive behavior and more internalizing behavior, somatic complaints, and withdrawn behavior. By age 7.5, aggressive behavior continued to decrease, attention problems increased and withdrawn behavior decreased. There were no main effects for methamphetamine exposure and no interactions of exposure and age. Caregiver psychological symptoms predicted all behavior problems and the quality of the home predicted externalizing problems and externalizing syndrome scores. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral effects longitudinally from ages 3 to 7.5 years were not associated with prenatal methamphetamine exposure, whereas caregiver psychological symptoms and the quality of the home were predictors of behavior problems.
Authors: Linda L LaGasse; Chris Derauf; Lynne M Smith; Elana Newman; Rizwan Shah; Charles Neal; Amelia Arria; Marilyn A Huestis; Sheri DellaGrotta; Hai Lin; Lynne M Dansereau; Barry M Lester Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-03-19 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Lynne M Smith; Linda L LaGasse; Chris Derauf; Penny Grant; Rizwan Shah; Amelia Arria; Marilyn Huestis; William Haning; Arthur Strauss; Sheri Della Grotta; Jing Liu; Barry M Lester Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2006-09 Impact factor: 7.124