Preterm birth, low birth weight, and hyperkinetic behavior in children.

We compared 54 children who were born either preterm or weighing less than 2,501 gm with 52 children born at term and weighing more than 2,500 gm. There were no significant differences in sex or racial distribution nor in socioeconomic status. After semistructured psychiatric interviews, four subjects from the preterm, low-birth-weight group and two subjects from the full-term, normal-birth-weight group were given a diagnosis of "hyperkinetic reaction" (not a significant difference). Scores on the Conners Parent-Teacher Questionnaire (PTQ) did not correlate with any birth-related variables, though subjects with psychiatric diagnoses tended to have greater PTQ scores.