British researchers have found that almost one-quarter of extremely preterm children, less than 26 weeks of gestation, had a psychiatric disorder at age 11.

The 11-year study of 219 extremely preterm children found the most frequent psychiatric conditions were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at 12 percent, Samantha Johnson of the University College London and University of Nottingham and colleagues, said. Nine percent had emotional disorders and 8 percent had Autism Spectrum Disorders.

It was also found by the study that a threefold greater risk of subsequent mental health problems in children born prematurely.

The data were from the EPICure Study which tracked extremely preterm children born in Britain at ages 1, 2.5, 6-8 and 10-11.

Johnson said in a statement, "Clinically, the findings suggest that much greater emphasis should be placed on early cognitive and psychological monitoring of extremely preterm children for emerging neuropsychiatric and emotional disorders." (With Inputs from Agencies)