Quality of Life and Psychosocial Profile Among Young
Women With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Therese Grant, Ph.D., Janet Huggins, Ph.D., Paul Connor, Ph.D. & Ann Streissguth, Ph.D.

Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Clinical reports indicate a poor quality of life (QOL) among individuals with FASD; however, QOL has not been formally assessed and reported in this population. We describe psychosocial and QOL assessment scores among 11 women with FASD. These women had poor QOL scores and high levels of mental health disorders and behavioral problems relative to standardization samples and other at-risk populations. We suggest that psychiatric distress may play a substantial role in the reduced quality of life reported among adults with FASD.

Ment Health Aspects Dev Disabil 2005;8(2):33-39