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 .
The impact of postnatal and concurrent maternal depression on child behaviour during the early school years.
BACKGROUND This prospect i ve study explores the ongoing impact of early and subsequent maternal depression on offspring behaviour in the early school years . METHODS Seventy five mothers recruited into a longitudinal study were assessed for symptoms of depression when their children were 4 , 12 and 15 months , 4 years and later when the children were 6 - 8 years of age . Mothers , fathers , and school teachers were asked to report on children 's internalising and externalising behaviour problems . RESULTS Exposure to maternal depression during the first postpartum year was related to mother reports of child internalising and externalising problems in the early school years . Although depression in the first year predicted later internalising problems , effects for externalising behaviour problems were mediated by concurrent depression . Relations between concurrent maternal depression and externalising problems were confirmed by teacher ratings . Interestingly , the severity of symptoms at four months was significantly correlated with behaviour problems seven years later . LIMITATIONS Attrition over successive study contacts and therefore limited statistical power is acknowledged . Findings may be a conservative estimate of associations between maternal depression and later child behaviour problems . Also , the high prevalence of depressive symptomatology in the population from which the sample was drawn may limit the generalisability of results . CONCLUSIONS Findings confirm the importance of early identification and treatment for mothers with postnatal depression , given the likelihood of ongoing depression and relations with later child behaviour problems . From a practical point , severity of early symptoms may be a reliable index of those mothers and children at greatest risk
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 .