In this first compendium in the growing literature of behavioral teratology, readers will discover an easy-to-access, concise presentation that covers a huge range of subjects. The book synthesizes important findings that help explain why prenatal events may result in abnormal behavior and learning disabilities later in life. It goes further to examine the role of prenatal perturbations in conditions as varied as dyslexia, schizophrenia, fetal alcohol syndrome, and autism.

Roy Martin, Ph.D., obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Texas. He is a licensed psychologist and a diplomate in professional psychology. He has spent his career training school psychologists, first at Temple University, then at the University of Georgia. At the University of Georgia he served in various administrative positions including Head of the Department of Educational Psychology. He also has been elected president of the School Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association, and is a fellow of three divisions of APA. He is the recipient of the Jack Bardon Award in School Psychology, and the Aderhold Distinguished Professor Award from the University of Georgia. He has been an active contributor to research on temperament in young children, and to prenatal factors that are associated with adverse psychological and educational outcomes for children.

Stefan C. Dombrowski, Ph.D., is a graduate of the University of Georgia. He completed a post doctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. He is a Professor and the Director of the School Psychology Training program at Rider University. Dr. Dombrowski is also a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist. He has published widely, including in the areas of child abuse and psychometry. He also is an active researcher in the area of prenatal exposures as they adversely impact children's psychological, behavioral, and educational functioning.

 

Section I: Introduction.- The importance of the prenatal central nervous system development.- Overview prenatal central nervous system development.- Section II: The demography of normal and abnormal childbirth.- Normal birth patterns.- Demographic characteristics resulting in fetal death: a model for fetal developmental risk.- Section III: Prematurity and low birth weight: The great mediator of developmental pathologies.- Prematurity and low birth weight: Defining the problem.- Prematurity and low birth weight: Learning and behavior outcomes.- Section IV: Maternal ingested toxins.- Maternal smoking.- Maternal alcohol use.- Maternal use of other recreational drugs.- Sections V: Maternal medical and psychological conditions.- Prenatal nutrition.- Maternal infection.- Maternal illness other than infection.- Maternal stress during pregnancy.- Other maternal characteristics.- Perinatal events: delivery complications.- Section VI: Environmental factors.- Environmental toxins: Air, water, and food pollutants.- Temperature, photoperiod, and other geophysical factors.- Section VII: Summary.- A model of prenatal perturbations to development.- Screening for prenatal perturbation in clinical work.- Appendix.