A 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF FETAL ALCOHOLIC SY NDROME OUTCOME .2. PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESULTS

The long-term developmental outcome of a large cohort of children suff ering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was studied in an interdisciplinary project. Assessments using structured psychiatric interviews and intel ligence tests took place during preschool age, early school age, and l ate school age period. There was an excess of psychopathology with a w ide variety of psychiatric syndromes in this cohort. Hyperkinetic diso rders, emotional disorders, sleep disorders, and abnormal habits and s tereotypies persisted over time. Interview findings were largely cross -validated by parents' and teacher questionnaire findings. Only one th ird of the patients showed normal intellectual functioning at first ex amination. Intelligence test findings displayed high stability at foll owup. There was no significant correlation between the amount of morph ological damage and intelligence. The persisting severe developmental disorders resulting from maternal alcoholism during pregnancy are also reflected in the poor school careers. Environmental factors and educa tion do not appear to be strong compensating factors.