Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and conduct problems: a brief overview of the literature

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy is prevalent, with nearly 10% of pregnant women worldwide consuming alcohol. No safe limit for alcohol intake during pregnancy has been identified. A narrative review examines the impact of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on the development of specific conduct problems in the offspring, namely Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD).
A comprehensive review of the existing literature was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases, with the search ending on 05 May 2023.
Research indicates that sustained alcohol use during pregnancy worsens behavioural outcomes in children, including CD and ODD, particularly in those facing additional adverse social conditions, in complex interactions with maternal mental health.
Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of early intervention and public health education to mitigate the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on child development and behaviour.
Source: Neratzi, S., Tsouka, M., Pseftogianni, T., Panagouli, E., Christopoulos, P., Sergentanis, T.N., & Tsitsika, A.K. (2026) Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and conduct problems: A brief overview of the literature. Advances in Experimental and Medical Biology,1489:507-512.