Author Affiliation: Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

Abstract: Objective: The aims were to examine the long-term functional outcome and risk of mood disorders in adulthood in individuals with foetal growth retardation. Method: In a prospective cohort study of 7806 individuals aged 20-30 years, using linked data from the Health Survey of Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT-2) and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, we studied the long-term effects of being born with a birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age (SGA). Results: SGA individuals had lower educational level (OR: 1.33), lower socioeconomic functioning level (OR: 1.77) and more frequent reported mood disorder in adulthood (OR: 1.26). Analyses of a substratum of infants born at term showed almost identical results. Conclusion: Foetal growth retardation measured as SGA shows a moderate risk for lower education and socioeconomic level and for anxiety and/or depression in young adulthood. Issues concerning interventions for children at risk should be considered.