The Impact of Maternal Depression in Pregnancy on Early Child Development

Abstract

Overt diabetes mellitus during pregnancy carries a significantly increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, but whether this is also true of less severe maternal hyperglycemia, or "gestational diabetes," remains uncertain. The Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study was planned to clarify the risk, if any, associated with less marked maternal glucose intolerance than is associated with overt diabetes. A standard oral glucose tolerance test using a 75-g dose of glucose was carried out at 24-32 weeks' gestation (target date: 28 weeks) in 25,505 pregnant women aged 18 and over at 15 centers in nine countries. Patient information remained blinded for 23,316 women whose fasting plasma glucose level did not exceed 105 mg/dL (5.8 mmol/L), and whose 2-hour plasma glucose was 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or less.For women with blinded data, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with a 1-SD (standard deviation) increase in fasting plasma glucose (6.9 mg/dL or 0.4 mmol/L); a 1-SD increase in the 1-hour plasma glucose (30.9 mg/dL or 1.7 mmol/L); and a 1-SD increase in the 2-hour plasma glucose (23.5 mg/dL or 1.3 mmol/L). The respective ORs for birth weight above the 90 th percentile were 1.38 (95% confidence interval,

The Case for Early Intervention to Reduce the Impact of Intimate Partner Abuse on Child Outcomes: Results of an Australian Cohort of First‐Time Mothers

“…Model 1 adjusted for measures of socioeconomic status (maternal age, family income), maternal relationship transitions (changes in relationship status over the follow‐up period), child gender and physical health issues. Model 2 in addition adjusted for maternal depressive symptoms . Child developmental problems (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) were considered potentially on the pathway among IPA, maternal depression, and child outcomes (e.g., maternal depression and use of antidepressant medication in pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorders ).…”

Using animal models to study post‐partum psychiatric disorders

“…Post‐partum blues often resolve spontaneously within 2 weeks without negative consequences for the mother or child (Seyfried and Marcus, ). PPD is more serious for both the mother and the offspring (O'Connor et al ., ; Deave et al ., ) and represents an episode of major depression with a specific temporal manifestation, which is still under debate. Currently, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders sets the first 6 months post‐partum as the period at risk for developing PPD, which occurs in 10–22% of mothers, often as a result of a long‐lasting ‘blues’ episode (O'Hara and McCabe, ).…”

The effect of perinatal depression treatment for mothers on parenting and child development: A systematic review

“…The developing fetus is also affected by exposure to persistently heighted maternal neuroendocrine responses (Giesbrecht et al., ), which may explain poor child development outcomes observed across cognitive, language, behavioural, mental, and physical health domains (Glover, ; ). Specifically, AD has been associated with various developmental problems such as a slower, gradual, or delayed cry and lower IQ in infants and an increased risk of depression and behavioral problems (Bergman, Sarkar, O'Connor, Modi, & Glover, ; Deave, Heron, Evans, & Emond, ; Hay, Pawlby, Waters, Perra, & Sharp, ; O'Connor, Monk, & Fitelson, ; Pearson et al., ; Warnock, Bakeman, Shearer, Misri, & Oberlander, ) in preschool and school‐age children and adolescents.…”