Table 3.
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Scores at School Age by Dichotomized Perinatal Steroid (PNS) Group
| Outcome | Low–No PNS Mean ± SD (n = 25) | High PNS Mean ± SD (n = 20) | F | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internalizing, Externalizing Total Problems scale | ||||
| Total Problems | 55.5 ± 11.8 | 52.1 ± 11.0 | 1.0 | .32 |
| Internalizing | 54.8 ± 11.9 | 52.2 ± 10.1 | .63 | .43 |
| Externalizing | 53.0 ± 10.2 | 49.0 ± 10.9 | 1.5 | .23 |
| DSM-oriented scale | ||||
| Affective problems | 56.6 ± 8.0 | 54.8 ± 7.14 | .62 | .43 |
| Anxiety problems | 59.4 ± 8.1 | 55.2 ± 6.8 | 3.4 | .07 |
| Somatic problems | 56.1 ± 7.4 | 55.7 ± 7.1 | .04 | .84 |
| Attention deficit/hyperactivity problems | 58.4 ± 8.6 | 58.3 ± 7.6 | .32 | .57 |
| Oppositional defiant problems | 55.4 ± 6.2 | 53.7 ± 6.8 | .06 | .81 |
| Conduct problems | 55.4 ± 5.0 | 53.8 ± 7.0 | .69 | .41 |
| Syndrome scale | ||||
| Anxious/depressed | 57.3 ± 8.2 | 53.2 ± 5.3 | 3.68 | .06 |
| Withdrawn/depressed | 58.2 ± 9.0 | 58.0 ± 9.1 | .01 | .94 |
| Somatic complaints | 55.3 ± 8.0 | 58.0 ± 7.3 | .04 | .83 |
| Social problems | 56.7 ± 8.2 | 57.0 ± 8.6 | .01 | .93 |
| Thought problems | 58.2 ± 9.2 | 54.6 ± 6.2 | 1.87 | .18 |
| Attention problems | 58.0 ± 7.9 | 58.9 ± 7.9 | .12 | .73 |
| Rule-breaking problems | 56.0 ± 5.9 | 53.9 ± 7.1 | 1 | .32 |
| Aggressive behavior | 56.0 ± 8.0 | 54.0 ± 6.9 | .74 | .39 |
Note. The low–no PNS group was exposed to ≤ 0.2 mg/kg dexamethasone (DEX) prior to 40 weeks’ postconceptional age (PCA); the high PNS group was exposed to > 0.2 mg/kg DEX prior to 40 weeks’ PCA. DSM = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.