High numbers of individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have been described as having mental health problems. This article summarizes research about mental health problems in FASD and considers related developmental and environmental issues. A computer-based literature search was conducted in the databases Medline, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Academic Search Complete, and Education Resources Information Centre for articles addressing the prevalence and types of mental health issues in individuals affected by FASD. High rates of mental disorders within the FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) population were found to be consistently reported for both internalizing and externalizing disorders. Moreover, problems that emerge in childhood may reflect a convergence of genetic, environmental, and neurophysiological factors that persist into adulthood. Researchers are beginning to document the impacts of PAE on later mental health development. Further longitudinal study is needed to determine whether there is an increasing severity of mental health deficits and consequences with age, and whether any such changes reflect increasingly deteriorating environmental factors or brain-based factors. Additionally, research is needed to design interventions to better address the unique mental health needs of this population.

For many years, researchers have explored the complex challenges experienced by individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This research has been important for documenting the brain‐ and body‐based impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure and the psychosocial vulnerabilities and environmental adversities frequently associated with FASD. It has also supported advocacy efforts and highlighted the necessity of providing FASD services and supports. However, with the focus on deficits and needs, there is a considerable gap in the literature on the strengths and successes of individuals with FASD. The lack of strengths‐based FASD research has likely perpetuated the stress and stigma experienced by individuals with FASD and their families. Thus, there is a critical need to shift the direction of the field. Here we provide a narrative review of the literature on strengths in FASD. Our goals are to: (1) understand the state of strengths‐based research related to individuals with FASD across the lifespan, and (2) describe positive characteristics, talents, and abilities of individuals with FASD that may be cultivated to promote their fulfillment and well‐being. We identified a total of 19 studies, most of which were conducted to explore the lived experiences of adults with FASD. This preliminary but critical body of evidence highlights the intrinsic strengths of individuals with FASD, including strong self‐awareness, receptiveness to support, capacity for human connection, perseverance through challenges, and hope for the future. Despite the importance of this emerging evidence, appraisal of the literature indicates a need for more intentional, methodologically rigorous, participatory, and theory‐driven research in this area. Findings from this study, including the identified gaps in the literature, can be used to inform research, practice, and policy to meaningfully advance the field of FASD and promote positive outcomes in this population.

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience remarkably high rates of mental health and substance use challenges, beginning early in life and extending throughout adulthood. Proactive intervention can help to mitigate some of these negative experiences. Although the literature on FASD intervention is growing, there is currently a lack of consolidated evidence on interventions that may improve mental health and substance use outcomes in this population. Informed by a life course perspective, we undertook a systematic review of the literature to identify interventions that improve mental wellness through all developmental stages for people with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and FASD. A total of 33 articles were identified, most of which were focused on building skills or strategies that underlie the well‐being of children with PAE and FASD and their families. Other interventions were geared toward supporting child and family wellness and responding to risk or reducing harm. There was a notable lack of interventions that directly targeted mental health and substance use challenges, and a major gap was also noted in terms of interventions for adolescents and adults. Combined, these studies provide preliminary and emerging evidence for a range of intervention approaches that may support positive outcomes for individuals with FASD across the life course.

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of cognitive, affective, and physical deficits following prenatal alcohol exposure. They are thought to be overrepresented in criminal justice settings. However, limited evidence is available to inform prevalence. We sought to estimate the prevalence of FASD in a Northern Canadian correctional population. Using an active case ascertainment approach we recruited a representative sample of 80 justice-involved adults (ages 18–40, 85% male) over an 18-month period from 2013 to 2015. Participants completed interdisciplinary clinical assessments comprising medical and psychological evaluations that adhered to the 2005 Canadian FASD Diagnostic Guidelines. We identified a high rate of FASD (17.5, 95% CI [9.2, 25.8%]) in this sample, and this rate could have been as high as 31.2% with confirmation of prenatal alcohol exposure. Most participants in this study presented with significant neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits in at least two domains of functioning, irrespective of diagnosis, with only five of 80 participants (6.3%) demonstrating no cognitive impairment. Findings showed disproportionately high estimated FASD prevalence in this representative sample compared to general population estimates in both Canada and the U.S. (2–5%), underscoring the need for improved FASD screening and diagnosis in correctional settings, and education for clinicians working in the justice context. Strengthened health prevention and intervention efforts to support the needs of individuals with FASD outside the criminal justice context are needed.

Background: Children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have significant impairments in memory, negatively affecting academics and daily functioning. Primary objective: To review published research on: (1) verbal and visual-spatial memory in children with FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE); (2) animal research on the impact of PAE on memory; and (3) brain areas involved in memory that are affected by PAE. Main outcomes: Verbal memory is one of the main areas of memory affected by gestational alcohol exposure, specifically in encoding and retrieving information. Spatial memory has emerged as a dominant deficit in individuals with FASD, consistent in children, adolescents and adults. There are regions of the brain more typically affected by PAE, which have ties to memory functioning. Animal research has confirmed the presence of impacts to key brain regions involved in memory functioning for those affected by PAE. Conclusion: Memory deficits are a prevalent finding in individuals with PAE. Research in this area is complicated by small sample sizes, difficulty linking animal research to human application and lack of effective connection between existing memory theory and functional memory testing in FASD. New research has shown that there are implications for memory and learning amelioration in children with FASD.