Maternal antenatal depression and offspring DNA methylation.

Association between parental depression during offspring adolescence and offspring depression from adolescence to early adulthood: A prospective cohort study in China.

Prematurity, temperament, physical wellbeing and maternal mental health in a low-income sample.

Maternal and neonatal ICU admissions and postpartum outcomes: A cross-sectional observational study on anxiety, depression, and maternal-infant attachment.

Ketamine ameliorates postpartum depression-like behaviors in rats exposed to sevoflurane during pregnancy through the AMPK/SIRT1/NLRP3 pathway.

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 1060 mother-child dyads to study the association between maternal depressive symptomatology and child development among children aged 0 to 38 months from 24 communities of Oaxaca Mexico. Maternal depressive symptomatology was measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies depression scale (CES-D). Child outcomes included WHO nutritional status indicators, a development evaluation test, and Bayley-III scales. We fitted logistic regressions for binary and linear regressions for continuous outcomes with multiple sociodemographic covariates. Children whose mothers had clinically significant depressive symptomatology (CES-D ≥ 16) had higher odds of stunting (covariate-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.32 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.69) and lower socioemotional Bayley-III composite scores. Clinically significant maternal depressive symptomatology was associated with lower odds of normal neurodevelopment in male children (AOR = 0.60 95%CI: 0.41, 0.88) but not in females. Maternal clinically significant depressive symptomatology was associated with lower means of the Bayley-III language scores among children from Indigenous language speaking households. Public health interventions are needed to prevent maternal depression and suboptimal care practices among the most vulnerable.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04210362. Study registration date 2019,07,14.

Maternal depression symptoms as a context for longitudinal changes in the perinatal brain and infant emotion outcomes.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a motivation-based intervention for fathers to enhance empathy and egalitarian gender-role attitudes, aiming to prevent maternal postpartum depressive symptoms. This was a single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted at a regional hospital in Japan. Eligible couples were recruited during the postpartum stay if the mother had a full-term birth and no psychiatric history. From October 2023 to November 2024, 262 fathers were enrolled and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The brief online intervention was delivered at 1 month postpartum. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 3 months (n = 221) and 6 months (n = 220). The primary outcome was maternal depressive symptoms (Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]). Secondary outcomes included paternal gender-role attitudes, empathy, childcare and housework involvement, and paternal depressive symptoms. Sociodemographic variables were comparable between study arms. Maternal postpartum depression (EPDS ≥ 9) was 4.5% in the intervention group and 9.3% in the control groups (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-1.50). With respect to paternal outcomes, the intervention arm significantly reduced traditional gender-role attitudes at 3 months (-1.74; 95% CI: -3.08 to -0.40) and 6 months (-1.52; 95% CI: -2.98 to -0.07), but no significant differences were observed in mother-rated paternal empathy or childcare and housework involvement. The intervention shifted paternal gender-role attitudes towards greater equality and flexibility, but did not produce measurable changes in paternal behavior or maternal depressive symptoms. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. The trial was registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (trial registration number: UMIN000051884. URL: https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000058421).

Disorganized attachment is an important risk factor for later child development but can only be reliable identified from 11 months of age. To prevent adverse child development, it is essential to identify factors associated with disorganized attachment that can be reliably assessed earlier in development. The present study investigates two potential risk factors, infant social withdrawal and maternal postpartum depression symptom severity, in a sample of 203 Danish mother-infant dyads. Infant social withdrawal (assessed using the Alarm Distress Baby Scale) and postpartum depression symptom severity (assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were measured when the infant was between 2 and 11 months old. Attachment quality was assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure when the infant was between 11 and 20 months. Only infant social withdrawal was significantly associated with disorganized attachment, with indications of this being due to the infant's ability to engage in interactions. These findings highlight the importance of investigating infant behavior as a potential factor associated with later disorganized attachment.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known predictors of mental health outcomes later in life. To date, few studies have examined ACEs and postpartum mental health, and data are limited on the role of ACEs in the utilisation of postpartum care, which is important for identifying women at risk of postpartum depression. We evaluated the associations between ACEs and postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) and utilisation of postpartum care (maternal postpartum checkup and depression screening). We conducted a serial, cross-sectional study using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 2016 to 2022. PRAMS is a population-based surveillance system implemented by state health departments among women who have had a recent live birth. The sample included four jurisdictions with ACE data (n = 23,913). Self-reported outcomes included receipt of a postpartum checkup, being asked about depression during the postpartum visit, and PDS. Logistic regression models accounting for complex survey weighting estimates provided confounder-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of ACEs (individual and score) and outcomes. The prevalence of 0, 1, 2-3, or ≥ 4 ACEs was 48.8%, 25.6%, 17.9%, and 7.6%, respectively. The prevalence of PDS was 15.2%. In adjusted models, ACEs were associated with increased prevalence of PDS, with PRs being 1.17 (95% CI 1.03, 1.30), 1.40 (95% CI 1.23, 1.57), and 1.86 (95% CI 1.60-2.13) for 1, 2-3, and ≥ 4 ACEs, respectively. Each individual ACE was associated with increased prevalence of PDS. ACEs were also associated with increased prevalence of no maternal postpartum checkup but were not associated with maternal depression screening. In this large population-based study, we found that women with higher ACEs had increased prevalence of maternal PDS. Findings support the need for prenatal screening for ACEs and for providing postpartum support and resources for women with a history of ACEs.

Maternal mental health is associated with fetal neurodevelopment. Identifying effective treatments for maternal psychiatric conditions is a public health priority. SRIs (SSRIs and SNRIs) are commonly prescribed for prenatal mental health conditions; however, their impact on fetal brain development remains understudied. In this observational cohort study, we compared fetal brain and placental structures between SRI-exposed and unexposed pregnancies divided by categories of maternal depressive symptom severity from the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Pregnant women treated with SRIs and controls without mental illness or antidepressant exposure underwent fetal MRI studies between 20-40 weeks' gestation. Fetal brain motion correction and 3D reconstructions were performed using slice-to-volume registration. Fetal brain volumes (cortical gray matter, white matter, deep gray matter, cerebellum, brainstem, and hippocampi) were quantified using deep learning-based segmentation with manual correction. Cerebral cortical folding measures included local gyrification index, sulcal depth, curvedness, and surface area. Placental volume and microstructure were assessed with T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI, respectively. EPDS scores were categorized as low ( ≤ 4), moderate (5-9), and high ( ≥ 10). A total of 182 pregnant women were included [62 SRI-exposed (59 SSRIs, 3 SNRIs); 120 controls]. Notably, 29% of SRI-exposed women continued to report elevated depression. SRI-exposed fetuses had smaller hippocampal volumes and reduced cortical gyrification, curvedness, and surface area. Subgroup analysis of stratification by EPDS scores revealed that SRI-exposed fetuses had reduced hippocampal volumes compared to unexposed fetuses with low and moderate, but not high, EPDS scores, and reduced cortical curvedness compared to unexposed subgroups. Among unexposed subgroups, fetuses exposed to high maternal EPDS scores had smaller hippocampal volumes compared to those with low scores. Placenta volume and microstructural diffusion were increased in the SRI-exposed compared to the unexposed group. Larger placental volume was associated with larger total fetal brain volume, and higher placental diffusion was associated with larger fetal white matter and cerebellar volumes in the SRI-exposed group. These findings suggest that prenatal SRI exposure may be associated with altered fetal hippocampal volumes, cerebral cortical maturation, and placental volume and microstructural diffusion. The clinical significance and long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of these structural alterations remain unknown and are currently under study.

Nicotine Use and Postpartum Depression: Comparison of E-Cigarette, Cigarette, and Dual Usage in Pregnancy.

Maternal depression is associated with mental health difficulties in children, but it is unclear how the timing or duration of depressive symptoms impact child outcomes. This study tested three life course frameworks in the longitudinal association between maternal depression and child mental health: sensitive periods, accumulation, and chain of risk. 841 mother-child dyads in Pakistan were followed from pregnancy through child age 7. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy, infancy (3 and 6 months postpartum), early childhood (child age 2 and 3), and middle childhood (child age 4 and 6). Child mental health difficulties were measured at age 7. Path modeling was used to test each life course hypothesis. Maternal depressive symptoms during early childhood and middle childhood, but not pregnancy or infancy, were associated with increased mental health difficulties at child age 7. Results supported the accumulation model, meaning there was a dose-response relationship between the number of periods of maternal depression and child mental health difficulties. Results also supported a chain of risk model, suggesting that early maternal depression can trigger a cascade of intervening maternal depressive episodes, the most recent of which are associated with child mental health. Results show that early exposure to maternal depression impacts children's later mental health through subsequent exposure to maternal depression. In addition, recent exposure to maternal depression is particularly impactful for child mental health. This suggests that interventions for maternal depression may benefit children at multiple points in the life course.

Given the known link between maternal and child mental health, it is likely that children whose mothers experienced more distress because of the COVID-19 pandemic were at greater risk for increased behavior problems. Yet research to date has not tested this hypothesis among families who were hit hardest by the pandemic-those with low incomes and from Black and Hispanic backgrounds. Research is also needed that focuses on young children and uses a longitudinal design. We harmonized data from 4 cohorts originally designed to study pediatric parenting interventions with underresourced families in 2 US cities. We examined, first, whether maternal distress because of the pandemic was associated with change over the next 1 to 2 years in preschool-aged children's anxiety/depression and aggression, and second, whether such associations were moderated by maternal depression. Maternal pandemic-related distress predicted a small increase in child aggression but no change in anxiety/depression. There was no moderation by maternal depression. Among families at risk of the most severe health and financial hardships because of the pandemic, maternal pandemic-related distress was associated with increases in child aggression 1 to 2 years later. Maternal mental health must be made a priority in the future disasters not only in its own right but also because of possible spillover effects on young children.

Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is known to elevate the risk of offspring asthma, but the impact of the timing of the distress remains poorly understood. To assess the individual and combined effects of maternal prenatal and postnatal depressive and anxiety disorders, both separately and longitudinally, on offspring asthma and its phenotypes. Healthcare register data on 310,701 children born 2001-2006 and their 232,240 mothers were collected. Maternal depressive disorder was defined by diagnoses F30, F31, F32-F34 and F38 and anxiety disorder as F40-F42, F44-F45 and F48. Timing of disorder was defined as prenatal (from one year before until labor) and postnatal periods (from birth until three years postpartum). Child outcomes were overall asthma diagnosis J45-J46 at 7-12years, further separated into allergic J45.0 and non-allergic J45.1 asthma phenotypes. Altogether, 19,000 (6.1%) children had asthma, 6517 (2.8%) mothers had depression, and 4189 (1.8%) had anxiety disorder. Child overall asthma was associated with maternal prenatal depression (adjusted odds ratio 1.28; 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.53) and anxiety disorders (1.30; 1.07-1.57), and with postnatal anxiety disorders (1.33; 1.15-1.54). Both maternal postnatal depression (1.36; 1.06-1.74) and anxiety disorders (1.45; 1.06-2.00) were associated with non-atopic asthma, and postnatal anxiety was associated with atopic asthma (1.34; 1.07-1.67). The comorbidity or longitudinality of maternal depressive and anxiety disorders didn't affect the associations. Maternal depressive and anxiety disorders were associated with offspring asthma, varying by phenotype and timing. The postnatal effect was significant, suggesting independent associations and possibly distinct pathways in child respiratory morbidity.

IntroductionMaternal responsiveness, defined as a mother’s ability to perceive her infant’s behaviour and respond appropriately, may be compromised with maternal depression and thereby impact early child development (ECD). These relationships have not been studied comprehensively in sub-Saharan Africa, where two-thirds of children are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. This sub-study of the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial in rural Zimbabwe evaluated the relationship between maternal-child interaction, maternal depressive symptoms and ECD using validated tools.MethodsThe Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Observed Mother-Child Interaction (OMCI) tool were administered to mother-infant dyads in the cluster-randomised trial. ECD was assessed using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) and MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI). Generalised estimating equations were used to estimate effect sizes while accounting for within-cluster correlation and primary results were adjusted for confounding factors.ResultsA total of 540 mother-infant dyads were included. 5.5% of mothers met the EPDS cut-off score for depressive symptoms. There was a positive association between OMCI score and MDAT motor, language and MacArthur-Bates CDI. For every 10 unit change in total OMCI score, there was a rise of 5.1 units (95% CI 3.6 to 6.6) in total MDAT score (out of 138 points), equivalent to a 0.54 SD increase. There was no statistically significant association between EPDS score and OMCI or ECD scores.ConclusionWithin a sample of rural Zimbabwean mother-infant dyads undergoing directly observed assessment, quality of maternal-child interaction was associated with ECD scores at 24 months of age.

To screen 2-5-year-old children from two districts in rural Bengal, India, using the Early Childhood Development Index 2030 (ECDI2030) tool and to compare the profiles of those developmentally 'on-track' and 'not-on-track' in terms of availability of fourteen important socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors. The study included children aged 2-5years from Purulia and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal, India, using 'simple-random-sampling-without-replacement' (SRSWOR) design for selection. Each participant underwent a three-step enquiry comprising demographic data collection, assessment of 14 socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors using Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)-6, and administration of the ECDI2030 questionnaire. Trained community workers conducted the survey. Out of 2170 children aged 2-5years, 85.25% were developmentally 'on-track' and 14.75% were not. Children 'on-track' more often had higher maternal education, greater parental engagement (play, storytelling, singing and reading), appropriate toys and fathers' involvement and had more toys and picture books at home. Maternal depression and tiredness, preschool attendance and family income showed minimal differences between the groups. The ECDI2030 tool is useful for identifying children whose development is 'not-on-track' and the influencing factors they lack. These insights can guide targeted early childhood development interventions. Caregiver awareness should be strengthened, with emphasis on active play, talking and interaction at home.

The association of gestational phthalate exposure with social skills and problem behaviors in adolescents.

Preconception micronutrient supplementation positively affects offspring perceptual reasoning at 10-11 years of age: follow-up of a randomized controlled trial in Vietnam.

Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Future of the Use of AI in Statistical Data Analysis.