Before Birth, Beyond Childhood: Understanding the Influence of Prenatal Substance Exposure on Psychiatric Diagnoses
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Background
Prenatal substance exposure (PSE) occurs when an individual is exposed to substances in utero. PSEs may have lasting effects on mental health. We tested whether PSEs show threshold, cumulative, or individual substance associations with childhood psychiatric diagnoses.
Methods
Clinical variables (demographics, ICD-9/10 diagnoses, PSE history) were extracted from electronic health records from the University of Minnesota Adoption Medicine Clinic. PSEs were identified from caregiver and child-protective-services narratives and/or toxicology (cord tissue/blood, meconium). For each ICD-9/10 diagnostic category, we fit logistic regression models comparing (1) exposure thresholds (0, 1, 2, 3, ≥4 exposures), (2) a cumulative exposure count, and (3) individual substances to estimate marginal odds ratios (ORs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).
Results
Psychiatric diagnoses increased with the number of PSEs. Relative to no exposure, odds of an Anxiety Disorder rose from OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.16–1.87) with one exposure to OR 2.03 (1.64–2.52) with ≥4 exposures. Higher cumulative exposure scores were associated with Anxiety Disorders (OR 1.28, 1.18–1.38), Behavioral and Emotional Disorders (OR 1.42, 1.31–1.54), Substance Use Disorders (OR 1.52, 1.29–1.79), and Mood Disorders (OR 1.16, 1.04–1.30). Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana exposures were associated with increased odds of at least one psychiatric diagnosis, and each substance showed at least one significant diagnostic cluster when modeled independently.
Conclusion
Increasing numbers of PSEs were associated with higher odds of psychiatric diagnoses, with patterns varying by substance and outcome. These findings motivate research on exposure timing and combinations to support earlier identification and intervention for at-risk children.
