The data suggest that effects of maternal PTSD related to cortisol can be observed very early in the life of the offspring and underscore the relevance of in utero contributors to putative biological risk for PTSD.

Prospective studies that begin during pregnancy and follow the mothers and children into adolescence have shown that maternal mental illness during the antenatal and postpartum period can have long-lasting negative consequences on the developing child. The findings from these prospective studies and a discussion of the consistencies and inconsistencies in the current literature are presented. The effects of maternal anxiety and depression during the perinatal period on cognitive, behavioral, and psychologic development from infancy through adolescence are examined.

No abstract

The sleep problems of children with cancer span the full spectrum of clinical sleep disorders (hypersomnia, sleep disordered breathing, insomnia, parasomnias, and circadian rhythm disorders) and are often present in combinations. Children with neoplasms involving the brainstem, thalamus, and hypothalamus were the most frequently referred for a sleep evaluation, and their sleep problems were most commonly EDS or SDB. Expertise in pediatric sleep disorders can be a valuable resource in the ongoing care of children with cancer.

That greater symptom improvement was related to DHEA levels may suggest for a role for these hormones in modulating recovery from PTSD.