Psychiatric disorder in young adults born very preterm: role of family history.

Abstract Objective To investigate whether young adults born very preterm (VPT) ( Methods We assessed 169 VPT and 101 term born individuals using the Clinical Interview Schedule – Revised. Results Young adults born VPT had an increased risk for psychiatric disorder compared to controls (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.1–8.6, p  = 0.03). Those born VPT who had a history of psychiatric disorder in a first-degree relative, had an increase in risk for psychiatric disorder compared to those born VPT without a family history (OR = 5.2, 95% CI = 1.8–14.9, p  = 0.002). Conclusion Individuals born VPT are at increased risk of psychiatric illness in young adulthood compared to controls. In addition, a family history of psychiatric disorder in a first-degree relative may leave young adults born VPT particularly vulnerable to psychiatric illness.