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Expected and Actual Preterm-Birth and Parental Distress: Impact on Children's Mental Health

Recruiting
Conditions
Preterm Birth
Mental Health
Psychological Distress
Cognitive Functioning
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Diagnostic procedures
Registration Number
NCT06627140
Lead Sponsor
Goethe University
Brief Summary

The purpose of the present study is the assessment of the mental health and cognitive development of children 6-11 years after premature or term birth. Impairments in children's' mental health are assessed focusing different disorders or problems (ADHD, Autism traits, Affective disorders, oppositional-aggressive behavior) and using both questionnaires and a clinical interview. Risk and protective factors will be analyzed, e.g., threat and/or actual premature birth compared to term birth, parents' mental health, positive coping, personality traits and social support in the peripartum period and afterwards, as well as medical parameters. The potential interaction of premature birth, medical complications, parental distress and children's mental health will be taken into consideration.

Detailed Description

A follow-up survey is conducted based on a previous study on psychological distress in parents with preterm infants (NCT01974531). Medical records and previous questionnaire data will be used for grouping the children based on threat of preterm birth, actual preterm birth and term birth as well as to assess the risk and protective factors in the peripartum period.

Parents have been informed within the first study part that a second study part, including their children, would have been followed. Parents were recontacted and asked for participation via telephone or email. Those who agreed, will be contacted via questionnaires in a first step and then in a second step interviewed regarding their own and their children's mental health. The investigators use the following questionnaires to assess children's mental health: Child Behaviour Checklist 6-18R (CBCL 6-18R), Conners 3rd Edition, Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Revised Children\'s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). In addition, the investigators conduct clinical interviews with parents on their children's mental health and assess children's cognitive competencies using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V). The following questionnaires are used to assess parental risk and protective factors: State-Trait Anxiety-Depression Inventory (STADI), Parental Stress Scale (PSS), Parenting Scale Short Form (PS), Big Five Inventory Short Form (BFI).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
250
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Risk groupDiagnostic proceduresRisk for preterm birth, but no actual preterm birth
Control groupDiagnostic proceduresTerm birth without risk for preterm birth
Preterm birth groupDiagnostic proceduresRisk for preterm birth and actual preterm birth
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Children's mental healthSingle assessment in Summer/Autumn 2024

Child Behaviour Checklist 6-18R (CBCL 6-18R), eight problem scales: anxious/depressed (scores from 0 to 26), depressed (scores from 0 to 16), somatic complaints (scores from 0 to 22), social problems (scores from 0 to 22), thought problems (scores from 0 to 30), attention problems (scores from 0 to 20), rule-breaking behaviour (scores from 0 to 34), aggressive behaviour (scores from 0 to 36) with higher scores indicating more difficulties.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Children's cognitive competenciesSingle assessment in Autumn/Winter 2024

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V): Composite score on a IQ standard scores. Higher scores indicate a higher overall intellectual ability.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Johann Wolfgang Goethe University

🇩🇪

Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

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