ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDERS AND OTHER PSYCHIATRIC OUTCOMES IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT CHILDREN AT 12 YEARS

One hundred and thirty-seven very low birthweight (VLBW) children were compared at 12 years with a sample of matched peers on a number of ps ychiatric symptoms including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, anxiety, and antisocial behaviour using the Child and Ado lescent Psychiatric Assessment parent interview and various parent and child questionnaires. The main psychiatric risk was Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADH) disorders, with 31/136 (23 %) VLBW children meeti ng clinical criteria, compared to 9/148 (6 %) of peers. VLBW children were also more likely to have generalised anxiety and more symptoms of depression. More than one quarter of VLBW children (38/136; 28 %) sho wed a psychiatric disorder of some type compared to 9 % (14/148) of pe ers. VLBW children are at increased risk of psychiatric symptoms espec ially ADHD. This outcome is discussed in relation to neurological, dem ographic, and cumulative impairment factors.