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Adverse Prenatal, Perinatal and Neonatal Experiences in Children with Anxiety Disorders

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Abstract

This study examined the incidence of adverse prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal experiences amongst children with anxiety disorders, and the relationship to clinical symptomology and functional impairment in treatment-seeking children (N = 107) with a primary anxiety disorder. Anxious children had higher rates of reported maternal prescription medication use during pregnancy, maternal smoking and illness during pregnancy and neonatal complications (including neonatal intensive care and feeding issues) compared with population base rates and non-affected children. Almost one-third had early problems with sleep. Developmental problems were common with more than half having at least one area of delay. More than three quarters of anxious children had a first-degree family member with a psychiatric history. There were several associations between neonatal complications and subsequent clinical symptomology, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depressive comorbidity, anxiety severity and functional impairment. Findings suggest higher rates of perinatal complications in anxious children.

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Acknowledgments

The contributions of Tyne Pierce, L.M.H.C., Amanda Krucke, Christin Cooper, Wendy Kubar, Ph.D., Stephanie Dobbs, and April Lott, L.C.S.W. at Directions for Living in Largo, FL, James Zenel, M.D., in Clearwater, FL, Ashley Holden, L.C.S.W., Elise Ward, R.N., M.S.W., Sonya Hernandez, L.M.H.C., Bhagirat Sahas, M.D., Nathalie Miniscalco Paquette, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. and Pamela Galan, R.N., M.P.A., at Henderson Behavioral Health in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Tanya White, M.S., Lori Olsen, M.S., Shannon Massingale, B.S.W., Ruqayyah Gaber, B.S.W., John Bilbrey, Ph.D., Carol Clark, R.N., C.M.C.N., Shaun Dahle, M.S., L.M.H.C., Ed Mobley, M.D., and Larry Williams, at Lakeview Center Inc. in Pensacola, FL, Michael Sulkowski, Ph.D., Elysse Arnold, B.A., Alessandro De Nadai, M.A., Joshua Nadeau, Ph.D., Anna Jones, B.S., Brittany Kugler, M.A., Joseph McGuire, M.A., Danielle Ung, M.A., Jennifer Park, Ph.D., Benjamin Chang, M.B.A., Stella Polycarpou, M.B.A., Marie McPherson, and Robert Constantine, Ph.D. at the University of South Florida, Nick Dewan, M.D. of BayCare Health System, and Muniya Khanna, Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania are gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant to the last author from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (1R18HS018665-01A1). The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Carly Johnco, Adam B. Lewin, Tanya K. Murphy, Brittney F. Dane, Nicole M. McBride & Eric A. Storch

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Adam B. Lewin, Tanya K. Murphy & Eric A. Storch

  3. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Adam B. Lewin & Eric A. Storch

  4. Department of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Alison Salloum

  5. Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Erika A. Crawford

  6. Rogers Behavioral Health – Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL, USA

    Eric A. Storch

  7. All Children’s Hospital – Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA

    Tanya K. Murphy & Eric A. Storch

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  1. Carly Johnco
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Correspondence to Carly Johnco.

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Johnco, C., Lewin, A.B., Salloum, A. et al. Adverse Prenatal, Perinatal and Neonatal Experiences in Children with Anxiety Disorders. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 47, 317–325 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0569-4

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