Calls for ‘proactive attention’ after study links anxiety disorders to premature birth
Landmark study on development of premature infants shows higher rates of anxiety, with severity rising among earlier births.
Infants born prematurely are more likely to develop anxiety disorders later in life, research by Megan Galbally, from Monash University’s School of Clinical Sciences, and published in the Journal of Child Psychiatry and Human Development has found.
The research shows babies born early have a heightened risk of developing psychiatric disorders, with a majority of cases manifesting as anxiety disorders.
Australian Psychological Society president Catriona Davis-McCabe said the study highlighted the need for accessible psychological services for Australia’s youth. “This study is a welcome development to better understand the relationship between early term birth and childhood mental disorders,” she said.
“Some 50 per cent of mental health disorders start before the age of 14, and evidence shows that building resilience and strengthening mental health early improves an individual’s quality of life throughout the lifespan.
“We know from our members that prevention and early intervention are important to ensure anxiety and other psychological distress don’t become chronic.”
The research builds on the findings of a 2021 review by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, which indicated that planned early term births increased child morbidity.
It showed that health outcomes were more severe the earlier the birth, and pointed to a link between premature birth and ADHD risk.
The Monash University study followed 342 women from pregnancy to four years after birth; 93 of the children were premature.
The researchers hope this will push clinicians to avoid earlier births for non-urgent medical reasons, and lead to a better understanding of the health costs of early term birth.
Emerging Minds director Brad Morgan said studies on biological causes for anxiety disorders explained the nature of a condition, but needed to be considered alongside nurture factors as well.
“We know anxiety and all mental health issues generally are an interaction of what’s happening in the moment for an individual with their biology,” he said.
“What this (research) can do is help us identify which populations may need some really deliberate and proactive attention.”
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