Caffeine use during pregnancy: prevalence of use and newborn consequences in a cohort of French pregnant women.

Many pregnant women, in the world, drink caffeine-containing beverages. Maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy may have adverse effects on foetus but results are conflicting. Our goals were to estimate the prevalence of caffeine use in a cohort of French pregnant women using maternal self-reports and to evaluate the association between caffeine consumption during pregnancy and delivery and newborn characteristics. All pregnant women who gave birth in a large French urban area during a limited period of time were included (in total 724 mothers were included). Coffee, tea or cola consumption as well as pregnancy and neonate characteristics were analysed. The mean consumption of caffeine per day slightly decreased from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy: 587 caffeine users, with a consumption of caffeine of 59.2 ± 61.5 mg/day during the first trimester as compared to 577 consumers (54.3 ± 55.4 mg/day) during the third trimester, respectively. A significant decrease of neonates' birth length was observed when mothers were using at least 100 mg/day (or two cups) of caffeine during the second and third trimesters but this difference was no longer significant after adjustment on potential confounding factors such as tobacco use. The potential existence of other confounders (e.g. poorer dietary habits or other lifestyle variables) that might also be associated with reduced birth length, may not be excluded. Caffeine use during pregnancy was associated with reduced birth length but this effect was no longer significant after adjustment on potential confounding variables.

A positive association between a polymorphism in the HTR2B gene and cocaine-crack in a French Afro-Caribbean population.

OBJECTIVES: Cocaine dependence has a strong heritability component. The aim of this study was to investigate the putative association between the serotonin 2B receptor gene (HTR2B), crack use disorders and impulsivity. METHODS: A French Afro-Caribbean male population of patients with crack use disorders (n = 80) was compared to healthy Afro-Caribbean male controls (n = 60). Comorbid ADHD and impulsivity were assessed. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HTR2B gene were selected: rs643700, rs6736017, rs1549339, rs17586428 and rs3806545. These SNPs were chosen to include most of the linkage disequilibrium blocks in the HTR2B gene. The French translation of the Barratt Impulsivity Scale BIS-11 was used to evaluate impulsivity. Comorbid ADHD was diagnosed using the Wender Utah Rating Scale-25 item for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. RESULTS: We have observed a positive association between the rs6736017 polymorphism and crack use disorders in a French Afro-Caribbean male population. CONCLUSIONS: In our population, the risk effect of HTR2B rs6736017 appeared to be specific to individuals with crack use disorders rather than being driven by impulsivity or ADHD alone.

WFSBP * and IAWMH ** Guidelines for the treatment of alcohol use disorders in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVES: These practice guidelines for the treatment of alcohol use disorders during pregnancy were developed by members of the International Task Force of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry and the International Association for Women's Mental Health. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of all available publications and extracted data from national and international guidelines. The Task Force evaluated the data with respect to the strength of evidence for the efficacy and safety of each medication. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There is no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. Abstinence is recommended. Ideally, women should stop alcohol use when pregnancy is planned and, in any case, as soon as pregnancy is known. Detecting patterns of alcohol maternal drinking should be systematically conducted at first antenatal visit and throughout pregnancy. Brief interventions are recommended in the case of low or moderate risk of alcohol use. Low doses of benzodiazepines, for the shortest duration, may be used to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms when high and chronic alcohol intake is stopped and hospitalisation is recommended. Due to the low level of evidence and/or to low benefit/risk ratio, pharmacological treatment for maintenance of abstinence should not be used during pregnancy. At birth, foetal alcohol spectrum disorders must be searched for, and alcohol metabolites should be measured in meconium of neonates in any doubt of foetal alcohol exposure.

Risk factors associated to tobacco and alcohol use in a large French cohort of pregnant women.

Tobacco and/or alcohol use during pregnancy is a major public health concern. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors associated to maternal alcohol and tobacco use assessed by maternal self-reports combined with biological measurements in meconium samples of cotinine and ethylglucuronide which reflect fetal exposure to tobacco and alcohol, respectively, during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. We conducted a prospective study in three maternity hospitals in a large urban area during consecutive weeks (2010 and 2011). Maternal sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed after delivery, using the French version of the Addiction Severity Index. Cotinine and ethylglucuronide were measured in meconium samples. Seven hundred and twenty-four women were included, and 645 meconium samples collected. Using multivariate analyses, we found that not being married or having a smoking partner predicts maternal tobacco use. In contrast, a decreased risk was associated with higher education level and wanted pregnancy. The risk for alcohol use increased when the mother had been in conflict with any relative or her partner for a long time throughout her life, as well as in case of previous treatment for any mental or emotional disorder. Using multivariate analyses and cotinine presence in meconium samples, the risks were similar except for marital status, which was not associated to cotinine presence. Community education and prevention programs should urgently be improved for all women of childbearing age with a special focus on those with past histories of mental or emotional disorders and addictive disorders. Smoking cessation should be recommended to both parents.

Assessment of tobacco, alcohol and cannabinoid metabolites in 645 meconium samples of newborns compared to maternal self-reports.

Prenatal psychoactive substance exposure has significant impact on neonatal health and child development and the development of reliable biomarkers is critical. Meconium presents several advantages for detecting prenatal exposure to psychoactive substances, as it is easy to collect and provides a broad time frame of exposure (third trimester). The aim of our study was to compare the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and/or cannabis use during the third trimester of pregnancy (using maternal self-reports) with the results of meconium testing of their metabolites in newborns (cotinine, ethyl-glucuronide (EtG) and cannabinoid metabolites). Among all deliveries (993) that occurred in all maternities in Rouen (Normandy) during a defined time period (5 consecutive weeks in August, 2010 and August, 2011), 724 mothers were included and 645 meconium samples were collected. Maternal self-reports, using the Addiction Severity Index (5th edition), and meconium samples were collected within 72 h of delivery. Cotinine detection appears highly correlated to maternal self-reports (Kappa value: 0.79; [95%CI: 0.73-0.85]). Moreover, detection in meconium seems more accurate in the prediction of neonatal consequences of prenatal tobacco exposure as compared to maternal self-reports. In contrast, we have found a lower concordance between maternal self-reports and meconium testing for EtG and cannabinoid metabolites (Kappa value: 0.13; [95%CI: 0.04-0.22] and: 0.30; [95%CI: -0.03-0.63], respectively); however the total number of EtG- and cannabinoid-positive meconium samples was small. Interestingly, meconium samples with the highest levels of EtG mainly corresponded to negative maternal self-reports. Fetal exposure to alcohol, tobacco or cannabis may also considerably differ as displayed in our pairs of dizygotic twins. Finally, a polyconsumption of these psychoactive substances was not frequently observed according to meconium testing. In conclusion, cotinine detection appears as a valuable meconium biomarker. EtG measurement in meconium samples seems interesting if there is any risk of high fetal exposure, whereas assessment of prenatal cannabis exposure, using meconium testing, needs to be improved.

A case of female hypersexuality and child abuse and a review.

Mother-son incest as well as female pedophilic disorder remain underrecognized and misdiagnosed. This is the case of a female child abuser who suffered from hypersexual disorder and mental retardation and whose son was viewed as a substitute transitional sexual partner. Our clinical case shared some common features with female sex offenders previously described in the literature but the association of sexual gratification and hypersexuality without pedophilic fantasies is quite uncommon in female child abusers.

[Licit and illicit substance use during pregnancy]. / Grossesse et consommation de drogues et d'alcool.

Licit and illicit substance use during pregnancy is a major public health concern. Alcohol and substance (tobacco, cannabis, cocaine...) use prevalence during pregnancy remains under estimated. Some studies have reported the prevalence of alcohol or substance use in different countries worldwide but most of them were based on the mother's interview. Consumption of one or more psychoactive substances during pregnancy may have serious consequences on the pregnancy and on the child development. However, the type of consequences is still a matter of controversies. The reasons are diverse: different rating scales, potential interactions with environmental and genetic factors. Considering the negative consequences of drug use during pregnancy, preventive campaigns against the use of drugs during pregnancy are strongly recommended.