NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Network Neurobehavioral Scale: A Comprehensive Instrument to Assess Substance-Exposed and High-Risk Infants (From Treatment for Drug-Exposed Women and Their Children: Advances in Research Methodology, P 198-204, Elizabeth R Rahdert, ed. -- See NCJ-163710)

• NCJ Number: 163722
• Author(s): E Z Tronick; B M Lester
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01-DA-06532; R01-DA-06882; N01-HD-2-3159
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC. NIDA Research Monograph Series 165

Annotation

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) is an instrument for evaluating neurobehavioral and neurological profiles of drug-exposed and high-risk infants, their adaptation to stress, and the withdrawal status of neonates exposed to illegal drugs in utero.

Abstract

Work on the instrument grew out of research on newborn assessment and training for the Perinatal-20 Project, a series of 20 intervention studies of drug abusing-mothers funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The NNNS provides a comprehensive examination of normal full-term infants, preterm infants, and especially infants at risk because of prenatal drug exposure. Although a precise lower gestational age limit cannot be set, the examination is appropriate for infants as young as 34 weeks. The instrument's reliability has been demonstrated, and its concurrent and predictive validity is being evaluated in the Maternal Lifestyles Study of 1,000 infants. Steps followed in developing the instrument are outlined, along with scoring refinements and administration procedures. 18 references