This meta- analysis showed no significant impairments , at a non-conservative significance level of p < 0.05 , for cognitive , psychomotor or observed behavioural outcomes for chronic intra-uterine exposed infants and pre-school children compared to non-exposed infants and children .
However , all domains suggested a trend to poor outcomes in infants/children of opioid using mothers .
Conclusions Chronic intra-uterine opioid exposed infants and pre-school children experienced no significant impairment in neurobehavioral outcomes when compared to non-exposed peers , although in all domains there was a trend to poorer outcomes .
Background It is assumed within the accumulated literature that children born of pregnant opioid dependent mothers have impaired neurobehavioral function as a consequence of chronic intrauterine opioid use .
Neurodevelopmental outcome after prenatal exposure to opiates
Abstract To study the developmental effects of prenatal exposure to opiates , a prospect i ve follow up study of 34 drug-exposed ( opiates and nicotine ) and 42 reference infants ( nicotine exposure only ) was conducted from January 1992 to September 1995 . At the time of delivery , 12 of 34 mothers used opiates without medical control . Twenty-two mothers participated in a methadone maintenance programme .  At 1 year , the average Griffiths Developmental Quotient ( DQ ) was lower in the drug-exposed group ( mean : 100.5 vs. references 107.9 ; P < 0.001 ) . This difference was mainly due to lower subscales “ locomotor ” ( mean 100.8 vs. 111.4 ; P < 0.05 ) and “ intellectual performance ” ( mean 100.8 vs. 108.5 ; P < 0.05 ) in the drug-exposed group . Severe developmental retardation mean DQ ( −2 SD ) was diagnosed in 2 drug-exposed infants . Mild developmental retardation ( mean DQ : 1 SD– > 2 SD ) was found in 7 drug-exposed and in 3 reference infants ( P < 0.05 ) . Neurological abnormalities were found more frequently in the drug-exposed group ( 11 vs. 3 infants ; P < 0.01 ) . Among the opiate-exposed infants , the subscales “ hearing and speech ” and “ intellectual performance ” were lower in the uncontrolled drug-using than in the methadone group . The 17 fostered infants showed no difference in developmental outcome compared with the 10 infants living with their biological parents ( mean DQ : 100.0 versus 101.3 ) . Conclusions At 1 year infants prenatally exposed to opiates are at risk for mild psychomotor developmental impairment
This meta- analysis showed no significant impairments , at a non-conservative significance level of p < 0.05 , for cognitive , psychomotor or observed behavioural outcomes for chronic intra-uterine exposed infants and pre-school children compared to non-exposed infants and children .
However , all domains suggested a trend to poor outcomes in infants/children of opioid using mothers .
Conclusions Chronic intra-uterine opioid exposed infants and pre-school children experienced no significant impairment in neurobehavioral outcomes when compared to non-exposed peers , although in all domains there was a trend to poorer outcomes .
Background It is assumed within the accumulated literature that children born of pregnant opioid dependent mothers have impaired neurobehavioral function as a consequence of chronic intrauterine opioid use .