Preemies May Be More at Risk for Depression, Anxiety Later in Life

A Swedish study suggests that infants who are born prematurely may be more at risk for depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.

In the January 2009 issue of Pediatrics, Dr. Karolina Lindstrom from Sachs Children's Hospital, Stockholm, and her colleagues reported that among 545,628 Swedish residents born in the 1970s and followed up until 23 to 29 years of age, 3.5% of those born moderately preterm (29 to 32 weeks of pregnancy) and 5.2% born very preterm (24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy) had been hospitalized because of a psychiatric disorder.

When compared with those born at a normal 40 weeks, risk increased depending on the degree of preterm birth. The risk was 8% higher in the early term group (born at 37 to 38 weeks), 21% higher in the moderately preterm group (born at 29 to 32 weeks) and 68% higher in the very preterm group (born at 24 to 28 weeks).

The researchers suggest that individuals who were born prematurely may need to be monitored more closely for the development of psychiatric disorders as they approach adolescence and adulthood.