Health and well-being in school-age children following persistent crying in infancy

Abstract

Aim: To examine the physical and mental health outcomes at school-age of a cohort of children who participated in a randomised clinical trial of treatments for persistent crying in infancy.

Methods: Participants and parents attended for a standard physical examination and clinical mental health assessment of the children. Parents completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), Forsyth Child Vulnerability Scale, Recent Life Events Questionnaire, RAND-36 Health Status Inventory and a study questionnaire about medical and socio-demographic characteristics.

Results: Seventy-five of 127 (59%) traced infant-parent dyads participated. There were no significant differences in baseline demographic characteristics, infant crying or maternal stress between those who participated and those who declined. Mothers who participated had higher Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores. The study group had poorer mental health, as measured on the SDQ, than a community sample (26.3% vs. 9.9% abnormal cases, risk ratio 2.56 (confidence interval 1.72, 3.80)). Fifteen of 61 (24.6%) children who attended for the clinical mental health assessment met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria for a mental disorder. In the 4 weeks preceding the assessment, the child's health limited family activities more than in a community sample (CHQ-Family Activities; P < 0.001). Parents had less time for personal needs compared with community norms (CHQ-Parent Time; P < 0.001) and were more likely to worry about their child's health (CHQ-Parent E; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: At school-age, children with a history of hospitalisation for persistent crying in infancy had a significantly higher prevalence of mental health problems and mental disorders, as compared with community samples.