Neurobehavioral problems at age 2 years in children with prenatal opioid exposure

Nimrah Baig; Qin Sun; Chunyan Liu; Shelley Ehrlich; Stephanie Merhar; Jennifer McAllister

doi:10.1038/s41372-024-01913-7

Neurobehavioral problems at age 2 years in children with prenatal opioid exposure

J Perinatol. 2024 Mar 2. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01913-7. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nimrah Baig^{1

2}, Qin Sun³, Chunyan Liu³, Shelley Ehrlich^{3

4

5}, Stephanie Merhar^{6

4}, Jennifer McAllister^{6

4}

Affiliations

¹ Perinatal Institute, Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. nimrah.a.baig@osfhealthcare.org.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA. nimrah.a.baig@osfhealthcare.org.
³ Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
⁵ Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
⁶ Perinatal Institute, Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

PMID: 38431756
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01913-7

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate factors associated with borderline/clinical range Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores in opioid-exposed children.

Study design: Retrospective study of 94 children with prenatal opioid exposure evaluated with the CBCL at age 2 years.

Results: Twenty-eight children (30%) had borderline/clinical findings on the CBCL, with 27% scoring borderline/clinical for Externalizing Problems. In the multivariable model, lower Bayley-III motor scores and discharge home with mother with safety plan were associated with borderline/clinical Externalizing Problems. Medication treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) was associated with normal Externalizing Problems scores. Treatment with clonidine or phenobarbital was associated with scores in the normal range in all broadband CBCL measures.

Conclusion: Specific factors are associated with behavioral and emotional challenges measured by borderline/clinical CBCL scores among opioid-exposed children.