The Hidden Epidemic of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Rates of co-occurring psychological needs of children and clinicians’ understanding of assessment and diagnosis.

Heathcote, Emma (2024) The Hidden Epidemic of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Rates of co-occurring psychological needs of children and clinicians’ understanding of assessment and diagnosis. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Research shows that the teratogenic effects of alcohol on a developing foetus can have widespread effects, with the potential to develop a range of disorders falling under the umbrella term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Children with FASD can experience a variety of difficulties, including mental health problems, behavioural and neurodevelopmental difficulties. A meta-analysis was undertaken to understand the prevalence of co-occurring psychological needs among this population. The effects of location of study and method of data collection on prevalence rated were explored with moderator analyses. The highest prevalence rates were found for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and behavioural difficulties, although results are considered in the context of high heterogeneity. Another reason for the high prevalence of co-occurring ADHD, is the similar presentations of both disorders. Evidence suggests that FASD is currently missed or misdiagnosed for disorders such as ADHD, for reasons such as a lack of confidence in diagnosing FASD. An online experiment, involving a clinical vignette of a referral about a young person with neurodevelopmental concerns, was conducted to explore the facilitators and barriers associated with clinicians considering FASD as a diagnosis. In particular, the study explored whether additional information regarding prenatal alcohol exposure impacted on the number of clinicians considering a diagnosis of FASD. Overall, clinicians were more likely to consider diagnoses of disorders such as ADHD when presented with the vignette, rather than FASD. This was the case even when the referral contained information of prenatal alcohol exposure, although this significantly increased the number of FASD considerations. Further training in the assessment and diagnosis of FASD is essential for supporting clinicians to hold in mind FASD as a diagnosis, to enable early intervention for children. Clinical implications for both the meta-analysis and empirical study are discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Kitty Laine
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2024 15:43
Last Modified:	11 Nov 2024 15:43
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/97613
DOI:

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