Behavior Disorders in Preterm Children

A study in the September edition of “Pediatrics” found that children who are born very prematurely are at increased for attention problems, hyperactivity and social relationship problems. In “Pervasive Behavior Problems at 6 Years of Age in a Total-Population Sample of Children Born at < 25 Weeks of Gestation” researchers used reports filed by parents and teachers in the United Kingdom and Ireland to test whether extremely premature children have more behavior problems than classroom peers. They found that these children were four times more likely to have emotional problems or behavior disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder at 6 years of age, compared to children born at full term. Extremely preterm girls had a higher degree of conduct behavior problems than other girls their age, and boys experienced more difficulties relating to peers. To access the study online, go to http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

**Taken from HMHB Monday Morning Memo Message***