Prenatal cocaine exposure differentially affects stress responses in girls and boys: Associations with future substance use

AbstractPrenatal cocaine exposure may affect developing stress response systems in youth, potentially creating risk for substance use in adolescence. Further, pathways from prenatal risk to future substance use may differ for girls versus boys. The present longitudinal study examined multiple biobehavioral measures, including heart rate, blood pressure, emotion, and salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA), in response to a stressor in 193 low-income 14- to 17-year-olds, half of whom were prenatally cocaine exposed (PCE). Youth's lifetime substance use was assessed with self-report, interview, and urine toxicology/breathalyzer at Time 1 and at Time 2 (6–12 months later). PCE × Gender interactions were found predicting anxiety, anger, and sadness responses to the stressor, with PCE girls showing heightened responses as compared to PCE boys on these indicators. Stress Response × Gender interactions were found predicting Time 2 substance use in youth (controlling for Time 1 use) for sAA and sadness; for girls, heightened sadness responses predicted substance use, but for boys, dampened sAA responses predicted substance use. Findings suggest distinct biobehavioral stress response risk profiles for boys and girls, with heightened arousal for girls and blunted arousal for boys associated with prenatal risk and future substance use outcomes.

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Late Dose-Response Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on Newborn Neurobehavioral Performance

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.98.1.76 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 98 (1) ◽

pp. 76-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Edward Z. Tronick ◽

Deborah A. Frank ◽

Howard Cabral ◽

Mark Mirochnick ◽

Barry Zuckerman

Keyword(s):

Dose Response ◽

State Regulation ◽

Full Term ◽

Self Report ◽

Dose Effect ◽

Cocaine Exposure ◽

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure ◽

Neurobehavioral Performance ◽

Prenatal Cocaine ◽

Infant Birth

Objective. To determine in a representative sample of full-term urban newborns of English-speaking mothers whether an immediate or late dose-response effect could be demonstrated between prenatal cocaine exposure and newborn neurobehavioral performance, controlling for confounding factors. Methods. The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered by masked examiners to a total sample of 251 clinically healthy, full-term infants at 2 days and/or 17 days. Three in utero cocaine exposure groups were defined: heavily exposed (n = 44, >75th percentile self-reported days of use during pregnancy and/or >75th percentile of meconium benzoylecognine concentration); lightly exposed (n = 79, less than both 75th percentiles); and unexposed (n = 101, no positive biological or self-report marker). At the 3-week examination there were 38 heavily exposed, 73 lightly exposed, and 94 unexposed infants. Controlling for infant birth weight, gestational age, infant age at the time of examination, mothers' age, perinatal risk, obstetric medication, and alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use, a regression analysis evaluated the effects of levels of cocaine exposure on NBAS performance. Results. No neurobehavioral effects of exposure on the newborn NBAS cluster scores or on the qualifier scores were found when confounders were controlled for at 2 to 3 days of age. At 3 weeks, after controlling for covariates, a significant dose effect was observed, with heavily exposed infants showing poorer state regulation and greater excitability. Conclusions. These findings demonstrate specific dose-related effects of cocaine on 3-week neurobehavioral performance, particularly for the regulation of arousal, which was not observed in the first few days of life.

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The association of prenatal cocaine exposure, externalizing behavior and adolescent substance use

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.027 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 176 ◽

pp. 33-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sonia Minnes ◽

Meeyoung O. Min ◽

June-Yung Kim ◽

Meredith W. Francis ◽

Adelaide Lang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Adolescent Substance Use ◽

Cocaine Exposure ◽

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure ◽

Adolescent Substance ◽

Prenatal Cocaine

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Prenatal cocaine exposure: An examination of childhood externalizing and internalizing behavior problems at age 7 years

Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale ◽

10.1017/s1121189x00002001 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 20-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Veronica H. Accornero ◽

James C. Anthony ◽

Connie E. Morrow ◽

Lihua Xue ◽

Emmalee S. Bandstra

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Behavior Problems ◽

Child Behavior ◽

In Utero ◽

Primary Caregiver ◽

Internalizing Behavior ◽

Self Report ◽

Cocaine Exposure ◽

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure ◽

Prenatal Cocaine

SUMMARYAim – This study examines the relationship between prenatal cocaine exposure and parent-reported child behavior problems at age 7 years. Methods – Data are from 407 African-American children (210 cocaine-exposed, 197 non-cocaine-exposed) enrolled prospectively at birth in a longitudinal study on the neurodevelopmental consequences of in utero exposure to cocaine. Prenatal cocaine exposure was assessed at delivery through maternal self-report and bioassays (maternal and infant urine and infant meconium). The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a measure of childhood externalizing and internalizing behavior problems, was completed by the child's current primary caregiver during an assessment visit scheduled when the child was seven years old. Results – Structural equation and GLM/GEE models disclosed no association linking prenatal cocaine exposure status or level of cocaine exposure to child behavior (CBCL Externalizing and Internalizing scores or the eight CBCL sub-scale scores). Conclusions – This evidence, based on standardized ratings by the current primary caregiver, fails to support hypothesized cocaine-associated behavioral problems in school-aged children with in utero cocaine exposure. A next step in this line of research is to secure standardized ratings from other informants (e.g., teachers, youth self-report).Declaration of Interest: This research was conducted in the context of an ongoing longitudinal study funded by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA 06556). Support was also provided by a NIDA career development award (K01 DA 16720), a NIDA research training award (T32 DA 07292), the General Clinical Research Center (MOI RR 16587), and the Health Foundation of South Florida.

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