BINGE DRINKING UPS RISK FOR PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS EVEN IN 'NON-DISABLED' OFFSPRING

Binge drinking during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), but most children of drinkers do not suffer from this disorder. A new study, however, adds to evidence that even offspring who appear to suffer no ill effects after heavy prenatal exposure to alcohol are at risk for behavior disorders that increase their odds of life failure or criminality.

Helen Barr and colleagues studied 400 adults (average age 25.7) whose mothers originally participated in a study between 1974 and 1975. The mothers' alcohol consumption during pregnancy was assessed, including whether or not they engaged in "binge drinking" (consuming five or more drinks on at least one occasion).

In their follow-up, Barr and colleagues assessed the subjects for the presence or absence of psychiatric disorders and traits. After controlling for a wide range of potentially confounding factors, they found that compared to other subjects, participants whose mothers engaged in binge-drinking at least once during pregnancy had more than twice the risk of being diagnosed with a substance dependence or abuse disorder, passive-aggressive personality disorder or traits, or antisocial personality disorder or traits.

The researchers conclude, "Prenatal exposure to alcohol may be a risk factor for specific psychiatric disorders and traits in early adulthood, even in a non-clinical group."

"Binge drinking during pregnancy as a predictor of psychiatric disorders on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV in young adult offspring," Helen M. Barr, Fred L. Bookstein, Kieran D. O'Malley, Paul D. Connor, Janet E. Huggins, and Ann P. Streissguth, American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 163, No. 6, June 2006, 1061-5. Address: Helen M. Barr, Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit, University of Washington Medical School, 180 Nickerson Street, Suite 309, Seattle, WA 98109-1631, hbarr@u.washington.edu.