Pattern of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Disorders Associated with Obstetric Complications in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH)

Background: Obstetric complications tend to affect the immature brain which may cause or predispose to neurological or psychiatric disorder(s) in childhood or adolescence.

Aim: To determine the pattern and prevalence of childhood and adolescent neuropsychiatric disorders associated with obstetric complications in UPTH.

Methodology: This is a multi-design study, a descriptive cross sectional for assessing psychiatric illness in childhood and adolescence at the time of presentation in the outpatient clinic and this was followed by a retrospective design for mothers to recall cases associated with obstetric complications. Therefore, all cases of childhood psychiatric disorders with established and reliable history of obstetric complications as volunteered by either or both parents of affected children from January, 2013-December, 2019 were included in the study. Diagnoses were made by consultant neuropsychiatrists using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual version 5 (DSM IV) criteria. All cases with family history of mental illness were excluded from the study. A study questionnaire was also administered to the mothers of affected children. The results were analysed using GraphPad Prism statistical software.

Results: In all, 2182 cases of various childhood psychiatric disorders were seen within the period under study. Out of this figure, 408 (18.7%) were associated with history of obstetric complications. The most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder was substance abuse with 17.3%, followed by depression 16.2% and then anxiety disorder 14.8%.

Conclusion: Obstetric complications have become important in childhood and adolescent neuropsychiatric disorders and is therefore important to pay more attention to steps that are necessary to prevent obstetric complications in pregnancy, labour, delivery as well as the immediate post partum.