Associations between self-reported symptoms of prenatal maternal infection and post-traumatic stress disorder in offspring: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort study

Abstract

word count is 259 words.Main text word count is 3,448 words.There are 4 tables and 0 figure. infection with a range of DSM-IV anxiety and affective diagnoses, while also testing for gender interactions. Results:In multivariate analyses, self-reported symptoms of prenatal genital infection predicted post-traumatic stress disorders (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.95) and social phobias (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.61), in addition to evidence for a gender interaction by which males (OR = 6.04, 95% CI: 2.00, 18.30) but not females were at greater risk for PTSD.Further analyses among those with PTSD revealed the relationship to be stronger when excluding those not exposed to trauma (OR = 3.21, 95% CI; 1.53, 6.72). Limitations:We were unable to clinically or serologically verify the presence and the type of prenatal genital infection. Conclusion:This is the first study to show an association between self-reported symptoms of prenatal genital infections and two highly prevalent anxiety disorders. The relationship with PTSD was particularly strong and suggested that the exposure may primarily impact PTSD in males. Further research with the capacity to assess a fuller-range of specific prenatal infections is warranted to evaluate the potential of reducing the prevalence of these disorders.

Use of Archived Neonatal Bloodspots for Examining Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Potentially Traumatic or Stressful Life Events, Maternal Herpesvirus Infection and Lifetime History of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Offspring

“…The authors found that self-reported maternal genital infection during pregnancy was statistically significantly associated with offspring PTSD (OR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.95) and social phobia (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.61), but not GAD or panic disorders in models adjusting for antenatal maternal anxiety and depression, maternal age, smoking status, alcohol use, parity, and education level as well as offspring birth weight and gender (Betts et al, 2015). The association between maternal genital infection during pregnancy and PTSD was statistically significant and even stronger among male offspring, but not among females (Betts et al, 2015). These findings are consistent with some (Enayati et al, 2012), but not all (Babri et al, 2014), animalbased studies that have examined sex-specific effects of maternal immune activation during pregnancy and anxiety-like behaviors in offspring.…”

“…While previous studies have examined the association between maternal herpesvirus infection and offspring mental health outcomes including schizophrenia (Buka et al, 2008) and mood disorders (Simanek and Meier, 2015), we are unaware of any studies that have assessed the role of such pathogens in the etiology of offspring anxiety disorders. A recent study by Betts et al however, examined the association between selfreported genital infection among women during pregnancy and offspring anxiety disorders including GAD, social and specific phobias, panic disorders and PTSD among participants in the Mater University Study of pregnancy (Betts et al, 2015). The authors found that self-reported maternal genital infection during pregnancy was statistically significantly associated with offspring PTSD (OR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.95) and social phobia (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.61), but not GAD or panic disorders in models adjusting for antenatal maternal anxiety and depression, maternal age, smoking status, alcohol use, parity, and education level as well as offspring birth weight and gender (Betts et al, 2015).…”

“…A recent study by Betts et al however, examined the association between selfreported genital infection among women during pregnancy and offspring anxiety disorders including GAD, social and specific phobias, panic disorders and PTSD among participants in the Mater University Study of pregnancy (Betts et al, 2015). The authors found that self-reported maternal genital infection during pregnancy was statistically significantly associated with offspring PTSD (OR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.95) and social phobia (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.61), but not GAD or panic disorders in models adjusting for antenatal maternal anxiety and depression, maternal age, smoking status, alcohol use, parity, and education level as well as offspring birth weight and gender (Betts et al, 2015). The association between maternal genital infection during pregnancy and PTSD was statistically significant and even stronger among male offspring, but not among females (Betts et al, 2015).…”

“…Overall, the growing body of human and animal-based research suggesting that maternal trauma and stress (Yehuda et al, 2001;Najman et al, 2010;Rice et al, 2010;Davis and Sandman, 2012) as well as infections (Enayati et al, 2012;Babri et al, 2014;Betts et al, 2015;Depino, 2015) during pregnancy may play a key role in the etiology of offspring anxiety disorders warrants further study of these relationships. If herpesviruses are identified in future studies as novel mediators in the pathway between maternal trauma or stress and offspring anxiety disorders, interventions aimed at infection prevention and/or improving stress-induced immune alterations during pregnancy may serve to decrease the onset of such conditions across generations.…”

Malaria in Pregnancy: An Unrecognized Risk Factor for Neuropsychiatric Disease in Offspring?

“…Clinical evidence of fetal exposure to maternal infections with Toxoplasma gondii and herpes simplex virus (type II) and an increased risk of adult schizophrenia have also been found [40][41][42]. Evidence from large birth cohorts have emerged that further support an association between maternal infection and an increased risk for other neuropsychiatric disorders including BD, ASD, and post-traumatic stress disorder [3,32,[43][44][45].…”