Premature Babies Psychiatric - Canadian researchers have revealed that an extremely low birth weight may portend that a child has a high risk of developing psychiatric disorders as an adult.

According to researchers at the McMaster University, who based their study on 80 adults who were born as extremely low weight babies (weighing just two pounds and two ounces), as well as 90 adults born with normal weight,  premature babies are more than twice more likely to develop psychological problems in their early thirties. Some of these psychological disorders include social phobias, anxiety disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The researchers also found out that premature babies have a lesser tendency to develop alcohol and drug problems in their early thirties compared to babies born with normal weight.

In the case of premature babies exposed to prenatal steroids, the researchers say this group is especially at risk of developing the aforementioned psychological problems.

Reports indicate that all the interviewees who participated in the study were born in Ontario between 1977 and 1982. The result of the study has been published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The lead author of the study Dr. Ryan Van Lieshout explained that "Importantly, we have identified psychiatric risks that may develop for extremely low birth weight survivors as they become adults, and this understanding will help us better predict, detect and treat mental disorders in this population."

Dr. Lieshout has explained that although the finding of his study is significant, it shouldn't cause women to automatically turn away from pre-natal steroids, which have been described as life-saving.

Millions of babies are born prematurely across the world each year, and since their vital organs may not be fully developed for them to be able to survive out of the womb, preemies are subject to many health risks.