Patterns of 1-day and 4-month motor functioning in infants of women on methadone

Neurobehav Toxicol Teratol. 1982 Jul-Aug;4(4):473-6.

Abstract

Motor functioning of 38 infants, 15 exposed in utero to methadone, was assessed on Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale with Kansas Supplements (NBAS-K) (Items: General Tonus, Motor Maturity, Activity, and Tremulousness) at 1 day, and at 4 months on Bayley Infant Behavior Record (IBR) (Items: Tension, Activity, Interest in Body Motion, Gross Coordination, and Fine Coordination). At 4 months, methadone infants generally showed a profile of poorer motor coordination, greater tenseness and interest in body motion, and higher activity level than did non-methadone infants. Guttman's Multidimensional Scalogram Analysis (MSA) of the 5 IBR motor-item profiles showed that a line can be drawn that almost perfectly discriminates the methadone and non-methadone infants by their joint performance on these 5 variables. A scatterplot of each infant's sum scores of the Brazelton versus IBR motor items revealed a significant correlation between 1-day and 4-month motor functioning. Methadone infants showed poorer motor functioning at both ages. This analysis of behavioral continuity again revealed an almost perfect discrimination between the two groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Heroin Dependence / rehabilitation
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Methadone / adverse effects*
  • Methadone / therapeutic use
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Motor Skills / drug effects*
  • Muscle Tonus / drug effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Psychological Tests
  • Tremor / chemically induced

Substances

  • Methadone