OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate previous teacher reports that children exposed to cocaine prenatally have more problem behaviors. METHODS: A historical, prospective design was used. Maternal subjects (n = 116) of 6-year-old singleton, term (>/=36 weeks) children, and the children's first-grade teachers (n = 102) agreed to participate. The child's first-grade teacher, blinded to study design and exposure status, rated the child's behavior with the Conners' Teacher Rating Scales (CTRS) and an investigator-developed scale, the Problem Behavior Scale (PROBS 14), measuring behaviors reported by educators to be specific to cocaine exposure. Mothers were interviewed by telephone regarding demographic and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Although the cocaine-exposed group had higher (more problem behaviors) for each of the CTRS subscales, the overall multivariate analysis of variance for the CTRS was not significant. Children exposed to cocaine prenatally had higher scores (more problem behaviors) for 11 of the 14 PROBS items and the overall multivariate analysis of variance relating prenatal cocaine exposure to the PROBS was significant (Wilkes' lambda =.775), even after controlling for gender and prenatal exposure to alcohol and cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study supports that teachers blinded to exposure status of early elementary students did rate the cocaine-exposed group as demonstrating significantly more problem behaviors than control children. Although an important first step, postnatal factors that also may influence behavior were not evaluated; hence, causation is not addressed.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate previous teacher reports that children exposed to cocaine prenatally have more problem behaviors. METHODS: A historical, prospective design was used. Maternal subjects (n = 116) of 6-year-old singleton, term (>/=36 weeks) children, and the children's first-grade teachers (n = 102) agreed to participate. The child's first-grade teacher, blinded to study design and exposure status, rated the child's behavior with the Conners' Teacher Rating Scales (CTRS) and an investigator-developed scale, the Problem Behavior Scale (PROBS 14), measuring behaviors reported by educators to be specific to cocaine exposure. Mothers were interviewed by telephone regarding demographic and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Although the cocaine-exposed group had higher (more problem behaviors) for each of the CTRS subscales, the overall multivariate analysis of variance for the CTRS was not significant. Children exposed to cocaine prenatally had higher scores (more problem behaviors) for 11 of the 14 PROBS items and the overall multivariate analysis of variance relating prenatal cocaine exposure to the PROBS was significant (Wilkes' lambda =.775), even after controlling for gender and prenatal exposure to alcohol and cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study supports that teachers blinded to exposure status of early elementary students did rate the cocaine-exposed group as demonstrating significantly more problem behaviors than control children. Although an important first step, postnatal factors that also may influence behavior were not evaluated; hence, causation is not addressed.
Authors: Zhihao Li; Priya Santhanam; Claire D Coles; Mary Ellen Lynch; Stephan Hamann; Scott Peltier; Xiaoping Hu Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Virginia Delaney-Black; Lisa M Chiodo; John H Hannigan; Mark K Greenwald; James Janisse; Grace Patterson; Marilyn A Huestis; Robert T Partridge; Joel Ager; Robert J Sokol Journal: Neurotoxicol Teratol Date: 2010-07-06 Impact factor: 3.763
Authors: Amelia M Arria; Chris Derauf; Linda L Lagasse; Penny Grant; Rizwan Shah; Lynne Smith; William Haning; Marilyn Huestis; Arthur Strauss; Sheri Della Grotta; Jing Liu; Barry Lester Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2006-01-05
Authors: Veronica H Accornero; James C Anthony; Connie E Morrow; Lihua Xue; Elana Mansoor; Arnise L Johnson; Clyde B McCoy; Emmalee S Bandstra Journal: Neurotoxicol Teratol Date: 2011 May-Jun Impact factor: 3.763
Authors: Melissa M Martin; Devon L Graham; Deirdre M McCarthy; Pradeep G Bhide; Gregg D Stanwood Journal: Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today Date: 2016-06