Maternidad, infancia y drogas: Implicaciones clínicas

Abstract

Objective: To review the relationship between prenatal drug exposure and foetal, neonatal and infant outcome. Material and methods: We study the current status of findings on prenatal exposure to psychoactive substances by means of an extensive review of Medline and North American and European research in the last few years. We pay special attention to the methodological complications arising from the objective of the study and to other factors such as the mother-infant relationship and the characteristics of drug dependent woman. Results: Prenatal drug exposure can be associated with a wide range of obstetrical complications and neurobehavioral disturbances in infants. With the exception of foetal alcohol syndrome and other foetal effects linked to alcohol, these alterations tend to be found in specific cognitive domains and can be modulated by psychosocial and environmental factors. Conclusion: infants prenatally exposed to drugs can be considered to be a special case of infancy at risk. It is necessary to investigate the real impact of prenatal drug exposure and the significance of other factors in the medium and long term outcome. In addition, it is essential to involve and train the various professionals, such as obstetricians, gynaecologists and paediatricians, and to coordinate the interventions of the different institutions, in order to improve the attention given to drug dependent women and their children.