The short-term behavioral sequelae of neonatal jaundice treated with phototherapy

Abstract

To observe the short-term behavioral sequelae of neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) and phototherapy using a before and after design, the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale with Kansas supplements (NBAS-K) was administered to a group of jaundiced infants treated with phototherapy, and to an untreated comparison group immediately preceding phototherapy treatment, immediately following treatment, and at 2 weeks. The data were analyzed using a Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance computed on the individual test items (n = 36). The behavioral sequelae of treating moderate hyperbilirubinemia with phototherapy were not severe, although at 2 weeks of age the comparison infants scored higher than the treated infants on items dealing with state control and orientation. Many of the observed differences involved “modal” rather than “best” scores. The findings address the need to describe treated infants' typical behavior, and possible avenues of future research are discussed.