Effects of prenatal opioid exposure and an attachment-based intervention on infant autonomic physiology
Date
2022
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Prenatal opioid exposure has been associated with developmental problems including autonomic nervous system dysregulation. However, little is known about effects of prenatal opioid exposure on the autonomic nervous system beyond the first days of life, particularly across both the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches, and when accounting for exposure to other substances. Further, it is not clear whether a parenting intervention may promote healthy autonomic regulation for this population. The present study examined prenatal exposure to opioid treatment medication (OTM) and other opioids on infant autonomic nervous system activity at rest and in response to a social stressor (the Still-Face Paradigm) at six months. Results indicated that OTM and other opioids have unique effects on the developing autonomic nervous system that may further depend on subtype (e.g., methadone versus buprenorphine) and timing in gestation. Further, infants whose parents received an early parenting intervention exhibited greater autonomic reactivity across both branches to the social stressor than infants whose parents received a control intervention. Results are discussed in the context of theoretical models of the developing stress response system, and implications for treatment of pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants.
Description
Keywords
Prenatal opioid exposure, Infant autonomic physiology, Opioid treatment medication