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Prenatal cocaine exposure: An examination of childhood externalizing and internalizing behavior problems at age 7 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2011

Veronica H. Accornero ,
James C. Anthony ,
Connie E. Morrow ,
Lihua Xue  and
Emmalee S. Bandstra
Veronica H. Accornero*
Affiliation:
Perinatal Chemical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Neonatology and Psychology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (USA)
James C. Anthony
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (USA)
Connie E. Morrow
Affiliation:
Perinatal Chemical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Neonatology and Psychology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (USA)
Lihua Xue
Affiliation:
Perinatal Chemical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Neonatology and Psychology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (USA)
Emmalee S. Bandstra
Affiliation:
Perinatal Chemical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Neonatology and Psychology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (USA) Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
*
Address for correspondence: Professor V.H. Accornero, Perinatal Chemical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program, P.O. Box 016960 (M-808), Miami, Florida 33101 (USA). Fax: +1-305.243.4080 E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

Aim – This study examines the relationship between prenatal cocaine exposure and parent-reported child behavior problems at age 7 years. Methods – Data are from 407 African-American children (210 cocaine-exposed, 197 non-cocaine-exposed) enrolled prospectively at birth in a longitudinal study on the neurodevelopmental consequences of in utero exposure to cocaine. Prenatal cocaine exposure was assessed at delivery through maternal self-report and bioassays (maternal and infant urine and infant meconium). The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a measure of childhood externalizing and internalizing behavior problems, was completed by the child's current primary caregiver during an assessment visit scheduled when the child was seven years old. Results – Structural equation and GLM/GEE models disclosed no association linking prenatal cocaine exposure status or level of cocaine exposure to child behavior (CBCL Externalizing and Internalizing scores or the eight CBCL sub-scale scores). Conclusions – This evidence, based on standardized ratings by the current primary caregiver, fails to support hypothesized cocaine-associated behavioral problems in school-aged children with in utero cocaine exposure. A next step in this line of research is to secure standardized ratings from other informants (e.g., teachers, youth self-report).

Declaration of Interest: This research was conducted in the context of an ongoing longitudinal study funded by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA 06556). Support was also provided by a NIDA career development award (K01 DA 16720), a NIDA research training award (T32 DA 07292), the General Clinical Research Center (MOI RR 16587), and the Health Foundation of South Florida.

Keywords

cocaineprenatal exposurechild behavior
Type
Special Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2006 , pp. 20 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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