Perinatal depression effects: A narrative review

Abstract

This narrative review summarizes publications from the last eight years (2010-2018) on the early interactions, developmental effects and physiological and biochemical profiles of perinatally depressed mothers and their infants. Depressed mothers are nonresponsive with their infants.The depressed mothers’ physiological profiles including low vagal activity, right frontal EEG activation and fMRI activation differences are consistent with the mothers’ lack of responsivity during interactions with their infants. Biomarkers of the mothers that would affect their mood states include elevated cortisol as well as low serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin levels. The infants of depressed mothers come to early interactions with a prenatal history of growth delays and less responsivity to fetal stimulation. At birth they have physiological and biochemical profiles that are similar to those of their mothers. They continue to show these profiles in later development (e.g. depressed vagal activity and elevated cortisol). Although their later behavior problems and cognitive delays have been attributed to the depressed mothers’ lack of responsivity during early interactions, these problems may also relate to their own lingering physiological and biochemical profiles. Keywords: Perinatally depression, Biomarkers