Return to search

Placental Size Is Associated with Mental Health in Children and Adolescents

Background: The role of the placenta in fetal programming has been recognized as a highly significant, yet often neglected area of study. We investigated placental size in relation to psychopathology, in particular attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, in children at 8 years of age, and later as adolescents at 16 years. Methodology/Principal Findings: Prospective data were obtained from The Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC) 1986. Placental weight, surface area and birth weight were measured according to standard procedures, within 30 minutes after birth. ADHD symptoms, probable psychiatric disturbance, antisocial disorder and neurotic disorder were assessed at 8 years (n = 8101), and ADHD symptoms were assessed again at 16 years (n = 6607), by teachers and parents respectively. We used logistic regression analyses to investigate the association between placental size and mental health outcomes, and controlled for gestational age, birth weight, socio-demographic factors and medical factors, during gestation. There were significant positive associations between placental size (weight, surface area and placental-to-birth-weight ratio) and mental health problems in boys at 8 and 16 years of age. Increased placental weight was linked with overall probable psychiatric disturbance (at 8y, OR = 1.14 [95% CI = 1.04-1.25]), antisocial behavior (at 8 y, OR = 1.14 [95% CI = 1.03-1.27]) and ADHD symptoms (inattention-hyperactivity at 16y, OR = 1.19 [95% CI = 1.02-1.38]). No significant associations were detected among girls. Conclusions/Significance: Compensatory placental growth may occur in response to prenatal insults. Such overgrowth may affect fetal development, including brain development, and ultimately contribute to psychopathology.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:miun-17060
Date January 2012
CreatorsKhalife, Natasha, Glover, Vivette, Hartikainen, Anna-Liisa, Taanila, Anja, Ebeling, Hanna, Jarvelin, Marjo-Riitta, Rodriguez, Alina
PublisherMittuniversitetet, Institutionen för samhällsvetenskap, Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Dept Epidemiol & Biostat, London, England, Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Inst Reprod & Dev Biol, London, England, Univ Oulu, Inst Clin Med, Oulu, Finland, Univ Oulu, Inst Hlth Sci, Oulu, Finland, Oulu Univ Hosp, Clin Child Psychiat, Oulu, Finland, Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Dept Epidemiol & Biostat, London, England
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeArticle in journal, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
RelationPLoS ONE, 1932-6203, 2012, 7:7, s. Art. no. e40534-

Page generated in 0.0022 seconds