Yale Pink and Blue Kids: Effects of Exposure During Pregnancy to Nicotine or Antidepressants in 4-8 Year Old Children
Condition: Behavioral Problems; Cognitive Problems; Motor Development
MeSH terms: Problem Behavior
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The purpose of this project is to conduct a follow-up study with women that had participated
      in the Yale Pink and Blue Study of depression in pregnancy and birth outcomes. The Yale Pink
      and Blue Kids Study is a follow-up study with the mothers and also with the children they
      were pregnant with in Yale Pink and Blue. These children are now between the ages of 4 and 8
      years old, which is a perfect time to look at developmental outcomes in children. This study
      will look at children with exposure to nicotine or antidepressants during pregnancy, as well
      as children who were not exposed. The investigators hypothesis is that children who were
      exposed to either nicotine or antidepressants in pregnancy will have poorer developmental
      outcomes than children who were not exposed. The investigators are also interested in
      determining whether nicotine exposure or antidepressant exposure results in poorer outcomes.

      The investigators specific aims are:

        1. To determine whether pre-school and school aged offspring exposed to maternal cigarette
           smoking or antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to have social-emotional
           problems compared to children who were not exposed to cigarettes or antidepressants
           during pregnancy.

        2. To determine whether pre-school and school aged children who were exposed to prenatal
           maternal cigarette smoking or antidepressants during pregnancy display cognitive
           impairments as compared to children who were not exposed to either prenatal maternal
           cigarette smoking or antidepressants.

        3. To determine if pre-school and school aged children who were exposed to maternal
           prenatal cigarette smoking or antidepressants display impaired motor development as
           compared to children who were not exposed to maternal cigarette smoking or
           antidepressants in pregnancy.
    


Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Other
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Each subject is a previous study participant known to this research team who has agreed to
        be contacted about future studies. We will review only their research records and not
        medical records in order to determine eligibility. There are no subjects for whom the
        ability to give informed consent can be questioned. All of the subjects were at least the
        age of 18 at the time of their initial PAB participation between 2005-2008, and thus are at
        least age 20 at the present time. All subjects are English speaking.

        These are women who participated in the PAB Study (HIC #12394) and delivered a singleton
        birth (no twins or triplets) between 2005-2008. We are inviting them and their children
        (now aged 4-8) to participate.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      We will be collecting saliva from mothers and their children in order to look at certain
      genes that may be related to developmental outcomes.
    
Keywords: To determine whether 4-8 year-old children exposed to nicotine or antidepressants in utero have more behavioral problems.; To determine whether 4-8 year-old children exposed to nicotine or antidepressants in utero have more cognitive problems.; To determine whether 4-8 year-old children exposed to nicotine or antidepressants in utero have poorer motor development.