The association between subjective maternal stress during pregnancy and offspring clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Objective Exposure to prenatal stress is a ubiquitous and non‐specific risk factor for adverse outcomes in adulthood. In this study, we examined associations between exposure to subjective maternal stress during pregnancy and subsequent diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in offspring. Method This study used the Helsinki Longitudinal Temperament Cohort, a prospective birth cohort of individuals born between 1 July 1975 and 30 June 1976 in Helsinki, Finland. The sample for this study comprised 3626 infants whose mothers had completed health and well‐being assessments during pregnancy which included a measure of self‐reported stress. We ran logistic regressions to assess potential associations between prenatal stress and offspring psychiatric disorder in adulthood, identified through the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. Results Individuals whose mothers reported stress during pregnancy had significantly greater odds of developing a psychiatric disorder (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.10–1.81) particularly a mood disorder (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.10–2.54). These associations remained after adjusting for parental psychiatric history, and other prenatal factors. Conclusions Individuals exposed to prenatal stress had significantly increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders later in life. This finding highlights the importance of supporting the mental health and emotional well‐being of women during pregnancy.

The role of prenatal stress as a pathway to personality disorder: longitudinal birth cohort study

“…These results are in line with previous research examining prenatal stress and its impact on the mental health of offspring. Previously, prenatal stress has been associated with an increased risk of offspring mood disorder, 9,10 schizophrenia 12 and anxiety. 11 These results suggest that prenatal stress is a nonspecific risk factor for mental illness, and also supports current theories suggesting that psychiatric disorders may not be independent constructs but rather share common aetiologies and symptoms, and differ mainly in their expression.…”

The Inflamed Brain in Schizophrenia: The Convergence of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors That Lead to Uncontrolled Neuroinflammation

“…Psychosocial stress might be more preventable than the other risk factors for SCZ. Reducing psychosocial stress in expecting mothers and young children or combating stress with exercise, nature exposure, yoga, or therapy could be used in individuals at risk for or diagnosed with SCZ ( Entringer et al, 2009 ; Vancampfort et al, 2011 ; Brannigan et al, 2019 ). Some lines of evidence show that environmental enrichment can protect against or reverse many effects of stress, including ELS, by rescuing behavioral phenotypes, inflammatory responses, microglial function, and oxidative stress, notably in the mPFC ( do Prado et al, 2016 ; McCreary and Metz, 2016 ; Dandi et al, 2018 ; González-Pardo et al, 2019 ), a region implicated in SCZ ( Glantz and Lewis, 2000 ; Barch et al, 2001 ).…”

Prenatal tobacco exposure and psychiatric outcomes in adolescence: is the effect mediated through birth weight?

“…Understanding the etiology of psychiatric disorders is vital for the early identification of those at high risk of later developing psychiatric disorders. Early life risk factors have been a topic of much research, with factors such as prenatal stress exposure, early childhood temperament, and exposure to childhood trauma being shown to be associated with later mental disorders (1,2,3).…”