Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy and Psychiatric Adjustment in Late Adolescence

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Abstract
THERE HAS been increasing concern about the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on children. Research indicates that maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of miscarriage,1,2 reduced birth weight,3,4 compromised perinatal status,4-7 and reduced intelligence in children.8-10 More recently, numerous studies have suggested that children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing later childhood externalizing problems, including attention deficit,11,12 oppositional defiant behavior, or conduct disorder.13-16 Furthermore, recent evidence also indicates that the adverse effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may persist into adolescence.14