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The interpretation of these data by the authors is incredible! They actually showed that infants identified as being less than 32 weeks, had a vanishingly tiny risk of hospitalization for severe psychiatric disorders.
For example there were 4 cases of bipolar disorder among 5,125 individuals. Although the relative risk is an 'impressive' 7.4 the actual attributable risk is an increase from 0.2 to 1.2 per 10,000 patient years, i.e. one hospitalisation per 10,000 patient years.
To pontificate that this demonstrates that preterm babies brains develop differently is ludicrous.
What it really does demonstrate is that preterm babies brains are at almost no increased risk of psychiatric disorder.
Re: Preterm babies have greater risk of severe psychiatric conditions as adults, study finds
The interpretation of these data by the authors is incredible! They actually showed that infants identified as being less than 32 weeks, had a vanishingly tiny risk of hospitalization for severe psychiatric disorders.
For example there were 4 cases of bipolar disorder among 5,125 individuals. Although the relative risk is an 'impressive' 7.4 the actual attributable risk is an increase from 0.2 to 1.2 per 10,000 patient years, i.e. one hospitalisation per 10,000 patient years.
To pontificate that this demonstrates that preterm babies brains develop differently is ludicrous.
What it really does demonstrate is that preterm babies brains are at almost no increased risk of psychiatric disorder.
Competing interests: No competing interests