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PurposeTo determine whether a diagnosis of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.MethodsMental health symptom screening and diagnostic data from 82 women with single gestation in the Healthy Babies Before Birth study conducted from 2013 to 2018 were obtained by clinic interview. If a woman scored over 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or endorsed the suicidality item; or scored over 7 on the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS), a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) Axis I Disorders was administered. An adverse perinatal outcome was operationalized as a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, chorioamnionitis, hemorrhage, fetal death, preterm birth, or a low birthweight baby, and abstracted from the medical records.ResultsWomen were between 22.0 and 45.0 years old (Mean age = 33.1 ± 4.3). Mean BMI was 24.7 ± 5.6 (Range 16.8 to 47.1). Nineteen percent (16) of the 82 women had a SCID diagnosis of a PMAD. Thirty-seven percent (30) had a diagnosed adverse perinatal outcome. Multiple logistic regression was conducted with these predictors: SCID diagnosis of a PMAD, maternal age, BMI. All predictors were significant with respective odds ratios as follows: OR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.03-12.44, p = .045; OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.21-4.38, p = .011; OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.06-2.69, p = .027.ConclusionsA PMAD diagnosis was associated with 3.5 times higher odds of having an adverse perinatal outcome. For every 5 years a woman aged or every five units her BMI increased her odds of having an adverse perinatal outcome increased. Older age and increased BMI are well established adverse perinatal outcome risk factors. These results suggest that mental illness risk should also be consistently assessed in obstetric settings.

Depressive symptoms during the perinatal period have broad and enduring health implications for birthing parents and their offspring. Rising prevalence rates of perinatal depression highlight the need for research examining factors influencing depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and trajectories during the early postnatal period. Grounded in bioecological systems theory, this longitudinal multimethod study examined whether prenatal bioecological factors predict depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 36 months postpartum. Participants were 162 pregnant individuals, oversampled for high emotion dysregulation, who completed a life stress interview and physiological assessment during the 3rd trimester and a self-report measure of depression at five time-points (3rd trimester, within 48 h of birth, 7, 18, and 36 months postpartum). Multilevel models were used to test study aims. Participants exhibited the highest levels of depressive symptoms at 3rd trimester, and substantial variability in depressive symptom trajectories over time. Lower resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of parasympathetic nervous system functioning, in the 3rd trimester was associated with higher concurrent depressive symptoms. Higher levels of stress related to partner relationships, finances, and health were concurrently associated with more depressive symptoms during pregnancy and decreases in depressive symptoms over time. Specifically, depressive symptoms decreased only for individuals who reported high levels of stress during pregnancy. Although grounded in bioecological systems theory, this study did not assess the macrosystem. Results of this study underscore the importance of multilevel predictors of perinatal health and highlights potential targets for preventing depression and promoting well-being during the perinatal transition. • Depressive symptoms peaked during third trimester of pregnancy. • Bioecological factors during pregnancy were associated with trajectory of depressive symptoms. • Lower RSA during pregnancy was associated with higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy. • Higher life-stress during pregnancy was associated with higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy. • For women with high stress during pregnancy, depressive symptoms decreased over perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interconnected effects of maternal perinatal depression and the early mother-infant relational quality on children's executive function development are crucial yet understudied. This study addresses this gap, focusing on how perinatal depressive symptoms and emotional availability at 6 months predict child executive function performance at age four, with an emphasis on the moderating role of emotional availability. This study included 282 mother-infant pairs recruited from the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study, utilising repeated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale measurement over the perinatal period, Emotional Availability Scales, and child executive function assessments (Shape School, NEPSY-II, Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity scale, inattentive subscale). Latent growth curve analysis incorporated controls for socioeconomic status and maternal cognitive abilities, and moderation effects were examined through multiplicative interaction terms. We found that emotional availability influences children's executive function, specifically switching, motor inhibition, and inattentive symptoms, irrespective of maternal depressive symptom changes. This effect is further nuanced by emotional availability's moderating role in the association between depressive symptom change and switching. The study's limitations include a relatively small sample size for moderation analysis and the exclusion of paternal influences. This study is a significant step in understanding the profound influence of maternal emotional availability in infancy on child executive function development, offering new avenues for research and, if replicated, a foundation for innovative intervention approaches. • Maternal emotional availability is a key predictor of child executive function development • Changes in perinatal depressive symptoms significantly impacted child switching and inattentive symptoms • Less emotionally available mother-infant relationships increased vulnerability to the effect of increasing depressive symptoms • The postpartum environment plays a critical role in early executive function development [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the progress being made in perinatal mental health research. It emphasizes the importance of addressing perinatal psychiatric and substance use disorders, as they can have negative effects on maternal functioning, obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, and child socioemotional regulation. The special issue highlights the interdisciplinary nature of perinatal psychiatry, which involves various specialties such as obstetrics, neonatology, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology, and neuroscience. The studies in the issue cover topics such as the risks associated with perinatal psychiatric disorders, the effects of treatments, the role of Mother-Baby units, and the biological aspects of perinatal depression. The research aims to improve treatment strategies, identify risk factors and biomarkers, and understand the underlying pathophysiology of perinatal mental health disorders. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Our study aims to understand whether depression, either in pregnancy or lifetime, affects cognitive biases (comprising the attentional focus and affective state) and mentalizing features (ability to understand children's internal mental states, thereby detecting and comprehending their behavior and intention), in maternal speech during mother‐infant interaction in the first postnatal year. Methods: We recruited 115 pregnant women (44 healthy, 46 with major depressive disorder [MDD] in pregnancy, and 25 with a history of MDD but healthy pregnancy) at 25 weeks' gestation. Three‐minute videos were recorded at 8 weeks and 12 months postnatally for each dyad. Maternal speech was transcribed verbatim and coded for cognitive biases and mentalizing comments using the Parental Cognitive Attributions and Mentalization Scale (PCAMs). Results: Women suffering from antenatal depression showed a decreased proportion of mentalizing comments compared with healthy women, at both 8 weeks (0.03 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01, P = 0.002) and 12 months (0.02 ± 0.01 vs. 0.04 ± 0.01, P = 0.043). Moreover, compared with healthy women, both those with antenatal depression and those with a history of depression showed decreased positive affection in speech (0.13 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01 and 0.08 ± 0.02, respectively P = 0.003 and P = 0.043), and made significantly fewer comments focused on their infants' experience at 8 weeks (0.67 ± 0.03 vs. 0.53 ± 0.04 and 0.49 ± 0.05, respectively P = 0.015 and P = 0.005). In linear regression models women's socioeconomic difficulties and anxiety in pregnancy contribute to these associations, while postnatal depression did not. Conclusions: Both antenatal depression and a lifetime history of depression are associated with a decreased quality of women's speech to their infants, as shown by less focus on their infant's experience, decreased positive affection, and less able to mentalize. Examining maternal speech to their infants in the early postnatal months may be particularly relevant to identify women who could benefit from strategies addressing these aspects of the interactive behavior and thus improve infant outcome in the context of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A growing body of literature links prenatal mood and substance use to children's cognitive and behavioral development. The relative contribution of these risk factors on children's executive function (EF) in the context of socioeconomic adversities needs further evaluation. To address this gap, we investigated the role of prenatal maternal anxiety and depression on childhood EF, specifically inhibitory control and working memory, within the context of socioeconomic adversities and prenatal substance use. We hypothesized that higher maternal mood symptoms, higher persistent prenatal drinking and smoking, and lower socioeconomic status would be associated with lower EF skills during early childhood. Methods: We used data from 334 mother–child dyads followed prospectively through pregnancy and the offspring's childhood. Prenatal maternal depression and anxiety were assessed via standardized questionnaires. Prenatal alcohol and tobacco consumption were assessed via a timeline follow-back interview. The EF touch battery assessed child inhibitory control and working memory at 3–5 years of age (4.76 ± 0.58 years, 171 females). Separate linear regression models were used to estimate the association of prenatal tobacco, alcohol, anxiety, and depression exposure with our two components of child EF, inhibitory control and working memory, while adjusting for gestational age, sex, and age at assessment. The following variables were also included as covariates: maternal educational achievement, employment status, parity, and household crowding index. Results: Children of mothers with high trait anxiety scores had reduced inhibitory control compared to children of mothers without trait anxiety or depression (β = -0.12, 95% CI:-0.22,-0.01). Children of mothers in the moderate to high continuous smoking group showed lower inhibitory control (β = − 0.19, 95% CI:-0.38,-0.01) compared to children of mothers in the none smoking group. Additionally, lower maternal education and higher household crowding were each associated with reduced inhibitory control. We found no significant association between prenatal maternal depression, anxiety, or socioeconomic factors with working memory. Conclusions: These results underscore the need for comprehensive context-specific intervention packages, including mental health support for women to promote healthy inhibitory control development in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are critical life events which lead to significant changes in family structures and roles, thus having a substantial impact on partner relationship and maternal wellbeing. A dysfunctional partnership during this critical time of life has been associated with maternal depressiveness. However, sub-components of partnership quality and the causal relation with maternal symptoms of depression in the perinatal period have been sparsely studied so far. The current study aims to longitudinally assess the course of relationship quality and its sub-components from pregnancy to postpartum and to test a potential causal association with maternal symptoms of depression in the perinatal period. Methods: Differing from previous studies, partnership quality and symptoms of depression have been assessed prospectively and longitudinally from an early stage of pregnancy (second trimester) until six months postpartum. Cross-lagged panel models were applied to investigate a potential causal relationship between partnership quality and maternal depressive symptoms. Results: Relationship quality decreased significantly during the transition to parenthood (p <.05) with the steepest decline referring to tenderness (p <.001). We also found a substantial association of relationship quality and maternal depressiveness, but no indication for a clear causal direction of this association. Conclusions: Our results suggest that relationship quality and maternal depressiveness are substantially related in the perinatal period, thus pointing to the need of early prevention and intervention programs for peripartum women and their partners to prevent adverse outcome for the couple and the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a major cause of disability and mortality for young people worldwide and is typically first diagnosed during adolescence. In this work, we present a machine learning framework to predict adolescent depression occurring between ages 12 and 18 years using environmental, biological, and lifestyle features of the child, mother, and partner from the child's prenatal period to age 10 years using data from 8467 participants enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We trained and compared several cross-sectional and longitudinal machine learning techniques and found the resulting models predicted adolescent depression with recall (0.59 ± 0.20), specificity (0.61 ± 0.17), and accuracy (0.64 ± 0.13), using on average 39 out of the 885 total features (4.4%) included in the models. The leading informative features in our predictive models of adolescent depression were female sex, parental depression and anxiety, and exposure to stressful events or environments. This work demonstrates how using a broad array of evidence-driven predictors from early in life can inform the development of preventative decision support tools to assist in the early detection of risk for mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/BackgroundDesign/MethodResultsConclusionCoping with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presents significant challenges for pregnant women and their partners, which may result in elevated prenatal depression symptoms. However, research has predominantly centred on pregnant women with GDM, with little involvement of their partners. To understand their dyadic interactions, it is imperative to involve GDM couples in the study. This study aims to examine the interplay between dyadic coping and prenatal depression symptoms among GDM couples and to explore the possible mediating role of marital satisfaction.A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China. A total of 400 couples completed the Dyadic Coping Inventory, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and sociodemographic data sheet. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was utilised for dyadic data analysis.Overall, 13.0% of pregnant women with GDM and 8.3% of partners experienced elevated prenatal depression symptoms. Dyadic coping was directly or indirectly related to their own and partners’ prenatal depression symptoms in GDM couples, with marital satisfaction acting as a mediator. Specifically, positive dyadic coping was associated with lower prenatal depression symptoms, while negative dyadic coping exhibited an opposite relationship.The prevalence of elevated prenatal depression symptoms was high in GDM couples. It is important to view pregnant women with GDM and their partners as a dyad of a transactional system in prenatal clinical care. Couple-centred interventions targeting to enhance positive dyadic coping and mitigate negative dyadic coping might be beneficial to prevent and alleviate prenatal depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic evaluation of exercise interventions' effectiveness on antenatal depressive symptoms in pregnant women and to investigate the impact of different intervention factors on the relationship between exercise and antenatal depressive symptoms. Methods: We conducted comprehensive searches in several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and others. The search period covered from database inception to May 2023. After thorough screening, a total of 7 papers with 524 subjects were included in the analysis. Results: The meta-analysis revealed that the overall effect size of exercise intervention on antenatal depressive symptoms in pregnant women was SMD = -0.41, with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.78, -0.05], and P = 0.03, indicating a significant improvement in depressive symptoms due to exercise intervention during the antenatal period. However, some degree of heterogeneity was observed among the studies, with I² = 74%, P = 0.0007. Conclusion: The results indicate that exercise interventions significantly contribute to the improvement of antenatal depressive symptoms in pregnant women, as inferred from the combined findings of the studies. Notably, static exercise intervention showed better results than dynamic exercise intervention. Moreover, interventions conducted before 20 weeks' gestation had superior outcomes compared to those conducted after 20 weeks' gestation, and interventions lasting longer than the trimester duration exhibited more favorable effects than shorter interventions. However, to validate these findings and optimise exercise intervention protocols for better antenatal maternal depressive symptom management, larger sample sizes and more comprehensive studies are required, given the observed heterogeneity and potential limitations in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cortisol is an important metabolic hormone that regulates multiple physiologic systems. Cortisol metabolism is sensitive to early life environments, including that experienced prenatally. Limited research has evaluated factors that predict variation in maternal and offspring toddler hair cortisol, which is important since hair cortisol represents different dynamics of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)‐axis function than more common salivary or serum measures. Methods: To address this gap, we longitudinally evaluated whether maternal depression measured in pregnancy and 1 month postnatal was associated with maternal and offspring hair cortisol levels approximately 15 months after birth (n = 46 mothers, 40 toddlers; mean 15.6 months postnatal, SD = 2.9 months). Results: Mean depression symptoms were highest during the prenatal period. Prenatal, but not postnatal, maternal depression was associated with offspring hair cortisol levels (B = 0.095, p =.01). Maternal hair cortisol was not associated with depression measured at either time point. Conclusions: These findings indicate that offspring hair cortisol more than a year after birth is associated with maternal prenatal depression, consistent with previous research in salivary cortisol, suggesting that long‐term offspring stress physiology may be influenced by conditions experienced in utero. These findings highlight the potential for hair cortisol—a minimally invasive and easy‐to‐collect measure— to index toddler HPA‐axis dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Prenatal depression, maternal anxiety, puerperal psychosis, and suicidal thoughts affect child welfare and development and maternal health and mortality. Women in low-income countries suffer maternal mental health issues in 25% of cases during pregnancy and 20% of cases thereafter. However, MMH screening, diagnosis, and reporting are lacking. The primary goals of the present study are twofold, as follows: firstly, to evaluate the importance of screening maternal mental health to alleviate perinatal depression and maternal anxiety, and, secondly, to analyze research patterns and propose novel approaches and procedures to bridge the current research gap and aid practitioners in enhancing the quality of care offered to women exhibiting symptoms of perinatal depression. (2) Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis to analyze the research topic, using the bibliometric tools Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, as well as the R statistical programming language. To accomplish our goal, we obtained a total of 243 documents from the Scopus and PubMed databases and conducted an analysis utilizing network, co-occurrence, and multiple correlation approaches. (3) Results: Most of the publications in the field were published between the years 2021 and 2024. The results of this study highlight the significance of shifting from conventional screening methods to digital ones for healthcare professionals to effectively manage the symptoms of maternal mental health associated with postpartum depression. Furthermore, the results of the present study suggest that digital screening can prevent maternal physical morbidity, contribute to psychosocial functioning, and enhance infant physical and cognitive health. (4) Conclusions: The research indicates that it is crucial to adopt and include a computerized screening practice to efficiently and immediately detect and clarify the signs of prenatal to neonatal depression. The introduction of digital screening has led to a decrease in scoring errors, an improvement in screening effectiveness, a decrease in administration times, the creation of clinical and patient reports, and the initiation of referrals for anxiety and depression therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Perinatal depression significantly impacts maternal and child health, with further complexities arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review is the first to comprehensively synthesize evidence on the prevalence of perinatal depression and its associated risk factors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) during the pandemic period. Methods: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022326991). This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guideline for prevalence studies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in six databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and ProQuest. Pooled prevalence estimates were computed for both prenatal and postnatal depression. Identified risk factors were summarized narratively. Results: A total of 5169 studies were screened, out of which 58 were included in the narrative review and 48 [prenatal (n = 36) and postnatal (n = 17)] were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled depression prevalence for prenatal women was 23% (95% CI: 19–27%), and for the postnatal women was 23% (95% CI: 18–30%). Maternal age, education, perceived fear of COVID-19 infection, week of pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and social and family support were identified as associated risk factors for depression. Conclusions: Our review demonstrates an increased prevalence of perinatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs. It sheds light on the significant burden faced by pregnant and postnatal women and emphasizes the necessity for targeted interventions during the ongoing and potential future crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adverse health outcomes and symptoms of depression are more common among pregnant women exposed to IPV. • During antenatal care it is possible to screen pregnant women for IPV, allowing for early intervention. • A brief digital empowerment-based intervention conducted within antenatal care in Denmark and Spain proved effective in reducing these symptoms. • The intervention proved effective when delivered by both midwives and psychologists. • Women initially presenting with more severe symptoms of depression experienced the highest impact of the intervention. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a significant public health concern associated with adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes, including increased risk of depression. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a digital empowerment-based intervention in reducing symptoms of depression among IPV-exposed pregnant women. This intervention study was nested within a cohort study conducted in Denmark and Spain. Pregnant women attending antenatal care were digital screened for IPV using the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) and the Women's Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). Those screening positive were offered a digital intervention comprising 3–6 video consultations with trained IPV counsellors and access to a safety planning app. Changes in depression scores from baseline to follow-up were evaluated using mixed model regression. From February 2021-October 2022, 1,545 pregnant women (9.6 %) screened positive for IPV within our population (8.5 % in Denmark and 17.0 % in Spain) with 485 (31.4 %) meeting the criteria for the intervention. Of those eligible, 104 (21.4 %) accepted the intervention, and 55 completed it (13.1 %). Post-intervention, a significant reduction in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was found, with a mean difference of −3.9 (95 % CI: −5.3; −2.4), compared to the average pre-intervention score of 11.3. Stratifying the analyses across sociodemographic variables did not alter the overall result, indicating a reduction in EPDS scores irrespective of setting or sociodemographic factors. Notably, the intervention was most effective for women initially presenting with EPDS scores above the depression cut-off. The findings suggest that a brief digital intervention is associated with a reduction in depression symptoms among pregnant women exposed to IPV, particularly among those with high depressive scores. This highlights the potential of digital interventions in delivering counseling and shows efficacy when administered by both midwives and psychologists in diverse settings. However, the absence of a control group underscores the need for caution in interpreting the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antenatal depression may result in adverse outcomes for both the mother and the offspring. However, few studies have focused on the screening of pregnant women at a higher risk for antenatal depression in the first trimester. The present study aimed to assess the effect of lifestyle and family relationships on antenatal depression in the first trimester in a large Chinese population. Cross-sectional population data were obtained from a real-world cross-sectional survey conducted in Shenzhen, China from 2020 to 2024. The data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and family relationships were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with a score of ≥13 indicating the presence of probable antenatal depression. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors of antenatal depression. A total of 42,363 pregnant women in the first trimester were recruited in the cross-sectional survey, among whom 3107 (7.3 %) had probable antenatal depression. We found (1) age < 25 years, (2) low or moderate economic status, (3) smoking, (4) partner smoking, (5) alcohol use, (6) lack of physical exercise, (7) poor or moderate living environment, (8) low or moderate marital happiness, and (9) never talking about problems were associated with antenatal depression. However, level of education, employment status, partner alcohol use, and living alone were not significantly related to antenatal depression in the first trimester. The cross-sectional design and the use of self-report measures must be considered while interpreting the results. This study suggested that the prevalence of antenatal depression in the first trimester was 7.3 %. Public health prevention efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence of antenatal depression are recommended. Early identification of women at a higher risk in early pregnancy is necessary for preventing antenatal depression and improving quality of life. [Display omitted] • The prevalence of self-reported antenatal depression in the first trimester was 7.3% in a developed district in South China. • Several lifestyle and family relationships were identified as risk factors for antenatal depression. • Early and evidence-based prenatal support is essential to prevent antenatal depression and improve the mental well-being of this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of maternal depression during mid-to-late pregnancy on fetal growth have been extensively investigated. However, the association between maternal depression during early pregnancy and fetal intrauterine growth are less clear. A prospective study comprised 23,465 eligible pregnant women and their offspring was conducted at a hospital-based center in Shanghai. Prenatal depression was assessed used using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) before 14 gestational weeks. Differences in fetal growth trajectory of different maternal depressive statuses during three periods (16–23, 24–31, and 32–41 gestational weeks) were compared using a multilevel model with fractional polynomials. Women with depressive symptoms during early pregnancy had higher longitudinal fetal trajectories, with an estimated increase in fetal weight (β = 0.33; 95 % CI, 0.06–0.61), compared to those without depressive symptoms. Increases in fetal abdominal circumference among women with depressive symptoms were observed before 23 gestational weeks. Offspring born to mothers with early pregnancy depression had a significantly higher birth weight of 14.13 g (95 % CI, 1.33–27.81 g) and an increased risk of severe large size for gestational age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.64; 95 % CI, 1.32–2.04) and macrosomia (aOR, 1.21; 95 % CI, 1.02–1.43). Self-rated scale was used to assess depressive symptoms rather than clinical diagnosis. And Long-term effects of early pregnancy depression on offspring were not explored. The study revealed an association between maternal depression during early pregnancy and increased fetal biometrics, higher birth weight, and an elevated risk of severe large size for gestational age and macrosomia. • Maternal depression during early pregnancy is associated with excessive fetal growth and increased birth weight. • The effect of early pregnancy depression on fetal growth is strongest in late pregnancy. • Prenatal depression screening should be taken in early stages of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The complex biopsychosocial pathways linking maternal mental health with preterm birth (PTB) are not well understood. This study aimed to explore allostatic load (AL) as a mediator and perceived chronic stress as a moderator in the pathway linking maternal mental health and PTB. Methods: A cohort study of pregnant women (n = 1,567) recruited at clinic visits within 10–19 weeks of gestation was assessed for maternal mental health (i.e., pregnancy-related anxiety, state anxiety, depressive symptoms) and perceived chronic stress. Blood pressure and levels of cortisol, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and glycosylated hemoglobin were used to create a composite measure of AL. Results: AL had the most significant effect on PTB (odds ratio (OR) = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.26–12.67, p = 0.001), while systolic blood pressure emerged as the only significant individual marker using variable selection (OR = 22%, 95% CI = 1.06–1.40, p < 0.001) in multiple logistic regression analysis. A mediation analysis revealed that maternal mental health did not have a significant direct effect on PTB (p = 0.824), but its indirect effect mediated by AL was significant (z = 2.33, p < 0.020). Low and high levels of perceived chronic stress, relative to the mean, moderated this indirect effect (z = 3.66, p < 0.001). Conclusions: AL has a significant direct influence on PTB and mediates the effect of maternal mental health on PTB; however, the indirect effect of AL is indistinguishable between women with higher or lower levels of perceived chronic stress than normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions Prenatal maternal depression is known to affect the neurodevelopment of offspring. This study aimed to investigate the profile of umbilical cord serum in mothers with major depressive disorder (MDD).Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS) was conducted using umbilical cord serum from mothers with MDD (n = 5) and controls (control, n = 5). The levels of several differentially expressed proteins in umbilical cord serum were compared between the MDD (n = 10) and control groups (n = 10) by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.The proteomic profiles in the umbilical cord serum were different between the MDD and control groups, including the pathways of regulation of plasma lipoprotein particle levels, and synapse organization. Only apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) was significantly higher in the cord blood of MDD group. APOA4 levels in maternal serum were also significantly higher in the MDD group than those in the control group. The APOA4 levels in the umbilical cord serum were higher than that in the maternal serum.The levels of APOA4, a biomarker of depression, in the umbilical cord serum at birth were elevated in the neonates of MDD mothers. It is, therefore, likely that fetuses of MDD mothers were exposed to higher APOA4 levels in utero and this could have developmental and mental health implications for the offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective cohort study, conducted at the Fenglin Community Health Service Center (FCHC) in Xuhui District, Shanghai, aimed to investigate the impact of maternal psychological status on offspring neurodevelopment. A total of 430 mother-child pairs were included, with pregnant women enrolled between February 18, 2020, and April 19, 2021. Face-to-face interviews and electronic data collection on demographic characteristics, health conditions and medical history were employed at various stages of pregnancy and postpartum. Maternal depression and anxiety were assessed using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales, while offspring neurodevelopment was measured at six months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3rd Edition (ASQ-3). In statistical analyses, group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was employed to identify the latent groups for maternal psychological trajectories, including depression and anxiety, and logistic regression was used to explore associations between maternal psychological trajectories and offspring neurodevelopment, adjusting for potential confounders. Five latent trajectory groups were identified for both depression and anxiety, exhibiting distinct patterns over time. Results indicated that maternal psychological trajectories were associated with various domains of offspring neurodevelopment, including communication, problem-solving, personal-social, and gross motor skills. Specifically, mothers in trajectory groups characterized by the highest level of depression or anxiety showed increased odds of offspring neurodevelopmental delays compared to reference groups. Our findings underscore the importance of maternal mental health during the perinatal period and highlight the potential implications for offspring neurodevelopment. Further research is warranted to elucidate underlying mechanisms and inform targeted interventions to support maternal mental well-being and optimize offspring outcomes. • The participants are well-educated and non-smoking study population with various health indicators during pregnancy • A small percentage of participants experienced moderate or serious depression • A notable proportion of infants exhibited delays in various developmental domains • Trajectory analysis identified distinct trajectory groups associated with increased odds of developmental delays [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prenatal anxiety and depression exert a significant influence on the physiological and psychological health outcomes of both expectant mothers and their infants. The aim of this study was to explore the intrinsic relationships between maternal anxiety, depression in early pregnancy, and their influencing factors. The findings of this study provide scientific basis for developing targeted preventive interventions. Methods: The study involved 887 expectant mothers in the early stages of pregnancy residing in Changsha City from March to August 2022. The sociodemographic characteristics, health and lifestyle factors, and pregnancy-related factors of participants were collected. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale were used to assess depression and anxiety, respectively. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models using SPSS 26.0 were used to assess factors impacting early pregnancy anxiety and depression. Amos 23.0 was used to construct a path model to determine the potential pathways of the influencing factors. Results: In early pregnancy, the prevalence of depression and anxiety were 17.4% and 15.8%, respectively. Path analysis showed that early pregnancy anxiety and illness during pregnancy had a direct effect on early pregnancy depression. Anxiety had the greatest overall impact on early pregnancy depression. Education, maternal comorbidities, symptoms of pregnancy, electronic device usage time, work stress, active smoking in the 6 months before pregnancy, and sleep quality were found to solely exert indirect effects on early pregnancy depression. Sleep quality had the greatest overall impact on early pregnancy anxiety. Active smoking in the 6 months before pregnancy, sleep quality, and work stress only had a direct impact on early pregnancy anxiety. Additionally, electronic device usage duration and monthly per capita household income exclusively indirectly impacted symptoms of early pregnancy anxiety. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions in early screening. Avoiding excessive use of electronic devices and active smoking in the 6 months before pregnancy, alleviating work stress and symptoms of pregnancy, increasing education levels and monthly per capita household income, improving sleep quality, and actively preventing illnesses during pregnancy and maternal comorbidities might reduce anxiety and depression in early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with infant temperament. Whether associations persist into late childhood, whether maternal distress is associated with temperament change from infancy to late childhood, whether associations are independent of maternal concurrent distress, and whether maternal distress has sensitive exposure periods on child temperament remain unclear. Methods: Our study includes mother‐child dyads from Finnish, prospective Prediction and Prevention of Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction study. The mothers completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, State Anxiety Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale: biweekly up to 14 times during pregnancy; once in infancy (at child age 4–12 months); and once in late childhood (at child age 7–11 years). They also completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised at the infancy (n = 2538) and Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire at the late childhood (n = 2004; 1693 children had data at both follow‐ups) follow‐up on child negative affectivity, extraversion and effortful control. We examined the associations of maternal distress with child temperament with linear regression, linear mixed and Bayesian relevant lifecourse exposure models. Results: Maternal distress during pregnancy was associated with higher negative affectivity and lower effortful control in children in infancy and late childhood. Maternal distress during pregnancy was also associated with increases in negative affectivity, decreases in effortful Control, and smaller decreases in extraversion from infancy to late childhood. The associations with late childhood temperament and temperament change were independent of maternal concurrent distress. Late childhood was a sensitive period for lifetime‐to‐date effects of maternal distress on late childhood negative affectivity and effortful control. Distress during pregnancy and infancy had smaller contributions. Conclusions: Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with individual differences and change in child temperament from infancy to late childhood. However, distress during pregnancy has a smaller effect on late childhood temperament than maternal concurrent distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The longitudinal study examines the effectiveness of a psychological support treatment for high-risk pregnancies using a between-groups design. It assesses the treatment's impact on depression and fear of COVID-19 at three time points, and on prenatal attachment between the 20th and 24th weeks of gestation (T0), postnatal attachment 15–20 days after birth (T1), and three months after birth (T2). Additionally, the study evaluates the treatment's effectiveness on PTSD related to childbirth and parental distress at T1 and T2. Methods: The study involved 117 parents experiencing high-risk pregnancies from a Sicilian hospital: 84 mothers (40 in the experimental group, 44 in the control group) and 33 fathers (19 in the experimental group, 14 in the control group). Results: ANOVA results showed that the psychological treatment was effective for maternal variables such as postnatal attachment and parental distress, and for paternal variables such as depression, prenatal attachment, PTSD symptoms, and parental distress (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study highlights the growing evidence for providing continuous psychological support to couples with high-risk pregnancies, emphasizing that this support should extend beyond childbirth to assist families through this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prenatal attachment refers to the affective investment that parents develop towards their unborn baby during pregnancy. Studies have identified depressive symptoms, affect dysregulation, and poor marital adjustment as potential risk factors for poor prenatal attachment. However, no research has concurrently examined these factors. This study aims to explore the simultaneous impact of depressive symptomatology, alexithymia, and couple functioning on prenatal attachment to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping the emotional bond between expectant mothers and their fetuses. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 344 women (mean age = 34.1, SD = 4.6) in their last trimester of pregnancy recruited from the National Health System. The participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Results: Regression analyses indicated that perinatal depression and alexithymia negatively affected the Quality of Prenatal Attachment, while Dyadic Cohesion served as a protective factor. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for early identification of perinatal depression and alexithymia, along with targeted interventions aimed at supporting Dyadic Cohesion during pregnancy. These efforts are crucial for fostering positive prenatal attachment and enhancing maternal mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is currently a heightened need for perinatal medical services to timely recognize and accurately meet the psychological needs of pregnant women. Psychological disturbances a mother experiences during pregnancy, such as depression and anxiety, can be later associated with inadequate maternal capacity for antenatal care for herself and the baby, and may lead to subsequent mental health problems later in the mother's life. Routine prenatal assessment could significantly benefit from being proactively enriched with early prevention mental health screening tools to assess, appropriately manage vulnerable populations, and subsequently implement preventive actions. Methods: 178 pregnant women, under routine prenatal medical assessment, were measured regarding depressive symptomatology and stress, through the use of two validated psychometric tools (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14)). Results: Heightened perceived stress and depressive symptomatology levels were associated with younger maternal age, an obstetrical record of more than one births and a history of abortion. Results additionally showed a connection between the requirement for a psychiatric referral—based on the levels of symptomatology recorded through the psychometric assessment and a clinical interview—and currently running the earlier stages (weeks) of pregnancy. Conclusion: Our revised proposed prenatal screening protocol for depression and stress suggests an amplified follow-up assessment including all pregnant women scoring high in both depression and in perceived stress, regardless of previous history of prenatal depression or of suicidality, to detect earlier or less manifest expressions of distress during pregnancy, in vulnerable perinatal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of prenatal maternal affective symptoms on the placental structure are not well-established. Employing Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial autocorrelation, Moran's I, can help characterize placental thickness uniformity/variability and evaluate the impacts of maternal distress on placental topography. This study (N = 126) utilized cohort data on prenatal maternal affective symptoms and placental 2D and 3D morphology. Prenatal maternal depression, stress, anxiety and sleep quality were scored for each trimester using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Stressful Life Event Scale (SLE), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Placental shape was divided into Voronoi cells and thickness variability among these cells was computed using Moran's I for 4-nearest neighbors and neighbors within a 10 cm radius. Sex-stratified Spearman correlations and linear regression were used to study associations between mean placental thickness, placental GIS variables, placental weight and the average score of each maternal variable. For mothers carrying boys, poor sleep was associated with higher mean thickness (r = 0.308, p = 0.035) and lower placental thickness uniformity (r = −0.36, p = 0.012). Lower placental weight (r = 0.395, p = 0.003), higher maternal depression (r = −0.318, p = 0.019) and worry/anxiety (r = −0.362, p = 0.007) were associated with lower placental thickness uniformity for mothers carrying girls. The study is exploratory and not all GIS models were developed. Excluding high-risk pregnancies prevented investigating pregnancy complications related hypotheses. A larger sample size is needed for greater confidence for clinical application. Placental topography can be studied using GIS theory and has shown that prenatal maternal affective symptoms and sleep have sex-specific associations with placental thickness. • GIS theory can be used to study placental topography. • Spatial autocorrelation describes placental thickness variability. • Prenatal maternal depression symptoms linked to varying placental depth in girls. • Prenatal maternal anxiety symptoms linked to variable placental thickness in girls. • Poor prenatal maternal sleep linked to greater placental thickness variation in boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given prior literature focused on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework, there is strong rationale to hypothesize that reducing depression in the prenatal period will cause improvements in offspring cardiometabolic health. The current review outlines evidence that prenatal depression is associated with offspring cardiometabolic risk and health behaviors. We review evidence of these associations in humans and in nonhuman animals at multiple developmental periods, from the prenatal period (maternal preeclampsia, gestational diabetes), neonatal period (preterm birth, small size at birth), infancy (rapid weight gain), childhood and adolescence (high blood pressure, impaired glucose–insulin homeostasis, unfavorable lipid profiles, abdominal obesity), and into adulthood (diabetes, cardiovascular disease). In addition to these cardiometabolic outcomes, we focus on health behaviors associated with cardiometabolic risk, such as child eating behaviors, diet, physical activity, and sleep health. Our review focuses on child behaviors (e.g., emotional eating, preference for highly palatable foods, short sleep duration) and parenting behaviors (e.g., pressuring child to eat, modeling of health behaviors). These changes in health behaviors may be detected before changes to cardiometabolic outcomes, which may allow for early identification of and prevention for children at risk for poor adult cardiometabolic outcomes. We also discuss the methods of the ongoing Care Project, which is a randomized clinical trial to test whether reducing prenatal maternal depression improves offspring's cardiometabolic health and health behaviors in preschool. The goal of this review and the Care Project are to inform future research, interventions, and policies that support prenatal mental health and offspring cardiometabolic health. Public Significance Statement: Prenatal depression is pervasive and is associated with poorer offspring development and health. The current review synthesizes evidence of biological and behavioral pathways by which prenatal depression may influence offspring cardiometabolic health. We outline an ongoing study that tests whether reducing prenatal maternal depression improves offspring cardiometabolic health and health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women suffer from mental disorders, particularly depression. In developing countries, these rates are even higher, at 15.6% during pregnancy and 19.8% postpartum. These depression issues often impair the mothers' ability to perform daily functions, highlighting that depression concerns extend beyond the physical to include significant mental health challenges. This observational study, using a prospective cohort design, was conducted in the Sawah Pulo Community Health Center area, Semampir District, Surabaya City, Indonesia. The study population comprised all pregnant women in the district, with a sample of 31 third-trimester pregnant women selected through simple random sampling. The Self Reporting Questionnaire-29 (SRQ-29) was used to detect Emotional and Mental Disorders (EMD) in both pregnant and postpartum women. Participants were interviewed during the third trimester and again up to one month postpartum. The findings revealed that 32.3% of third-trimester pregnant women experienced depression, increasing to 45.2% postpartum. Among those with prenatal depression, 60% continued to experience postpartum depression. In addition, 38.1% of women without depression during pregnancy developed it postpartum. The study suggests that persistent depression from pregnancy into the postpartum period is often due to a lack of informational support from families. However, those receiving consistent family support during pregnancy typically did not continue to experience postpartum depression. Therefore, providing pregnant women with essential information and family support is crucial for ensuring mental well-being during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Pregnancy and childbirth are critical life events which lead to significant changes in family structures and roles, thus having a substantial impact on partner relationship and maternal wellbeing. A dysfunctional partnership during this critical time of life has been associated with maternal depressiveness. However, sub-components of partnership quality and the causal relation with maternal symptoms of depression in the perinatal period have been sparsely studied so far. The current study aims to longitudinally assess the course of relationship quality and its sub-components from pregnancy to postpartum and to test a potential causal association with maternal symptoms of depression in the perinatal period. Methods Differing from previous studies, partnership quality and symptoms of depression have been assessed prospectively and longitudinally from an early stage of pregnancy (second trimester) until six months postpartum. Cross-lagged panel models were applied to investigate a potential causal relationship between partnership quality and maternal depressive symptoms. Results Relationship quality decreased significantly during the transition to parenthood (p

Antenatal mental disorders are associated with maternal and fetal adverse events. Previous studies have been focused on the postpartum period, rather than pregnancy, yet the association of risk factors with prenatal depression and anxiety through pregnancy has been rarely reported. This study aimed to identify the risk factors of prenatal depression and anxiety, and access their potential roles in developing mental disorders during pregnancy. This is a prospective study in 6470 participants from the Tianjin Birth Cohort in China (TJBC). The degree of prenatal depression and anxiety was evaluated using a questionnaire of Self-Rating Depression scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), which was given to pregnant women at 15–27 (Stage-2), and 28–41 (Stage-3) gestational weeks. The questionnaire also collected demographic, personal, and lifestyle information. The association of different factors with SDS/SAS score was examined by logistic regression analysis. We observed an overall depression rate of 12.4 % and an overall anxiety rate of 7.7 % during pregnancy in the TJBC. In the Stage-2, the depression rate was 14.5 % and the anxiety rate was 9.5 %. In the Stage-3, the depression rate dropped to 9.7 % while the anxiety rate dropped to 5.3 %. With univariate analysis, we found that age, education, social support, marriage satisfaction, secondhand smoke (SHS), sleeping time and stress were common factors of prenatal mental health. Working status, family income, gravidity, smoking, electronic using, recreational activities were associated with depression risk, whereas BMI, disease history, changing eating habits, and feeding animal were associated with anxiety risk. Using logistic regression, we found that low education level, low social support, low marriage satisfaction, thyroid disfunction, Stage-2(second trimester), and stress were related to prenatal mental health. The prevalence anxiety and depression in Tianjin is normal as national level. Age appropriateness, a good education level, sufficient social support, marital satisfaction, normal thyroid function, and absence of stress are associated with relieving depression and anxiety during gestation. However, due to individual difference, expectant mothers should seek professional support and guidance to address their mental health needs during gestation. • Social support is related to prenatal mental health. • No significant association between COVID-19 and prenatal mental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal depression, which can affect pregnant women’s physical and psychological health and cause postpartum depression, is increasing dramatically. Therefore, it is essential to detect prenatal depression early and conduct an attribution analysis. Many studies have used questionnaires to screen for prenatal depression, but the existing methods lack attributability. To diagnose the early signs of prenatal depression and identify the key factors that may lead to prenatal depression from questionnaires, we present the semantically enhanced option embedding (SEOE) model to represent questionnaire options. It can quantitatively determine the relationship and patterns between options and depression. SEOE first quantifies options and resorts them, gathering options with little difference, since Word2Vec is highly dependent on context. The resort task is transformed into an optimization problem involving the traveling salesman problem. Moreover, all questionnaire samples are used to train the options’ vector using Word2Vec. Finally, an LSTM and GRU fused model incorporating the cycle learning rate is constructed to detect whether a pregnant woman is suffering from depression. To verify the model, we compare it with other deep learning and traditional machine learning methods. The experiment results show that our proposed model can accurately identify pregnant women with depression and reach an F1 score of 0.8. The most relevant factors of depression found by SEOE are also verified in the literature. In addition, our model is of low computational complexity and strong generalization, which can be widely applied to other questionnaire analyses of psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mental health conditions (i.e. depression or anxiety) are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth in the United States (U.S.) and are associated with increased maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Research has demonstrated a relationship between stress and mental health diagnoses in pregnancy; therefore, it is concerning that military families face unique challenges which contribute to additional stressors among spouses of active-duty (AD) military personnel during the perinatal period. The objective of this scoping review was to understand the current state of research on perinatal stress or perinatal mental health among American spouses of AD military personnel. Methods: The Boolean phrase was created in consultation with 2 health science librarians and the following databases searched in October 2023: PubMed, Embase, Military and Government Collection, CINAHL, and PsychINFO. 2 reviewers identified 481 studies for screening once duplicates were removed. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 studies remained for data extraction and analysis. Results: Most of the studies were quantitative, took place in the southern U.S., and the most represented military branch was Air Force. Most of the studies included both AD military members and AD spouses; 28% focused solely on AD spouses. Samples were not racially diverse, and findings identified racial disparities in perinatal mental health conditions. There was a wide variety in outcome measures, including the following general categories: (1) stress, anxiety, and/or depression, (2) maternal-infant attachment, (3) group prenatal care, and (4) deployment focus. Our review identified the following concepts: spouses most at risk for perinatal mental health conditions, the need for perinatal mental health screening, and the need for social support. Conclusions: Findings from the identified studies indicate a need for additional research in this area. Additionally, findings highlight circumstances unique to this population that result in an increased risk of stress and/or mental health conditions during the perinatal period. Such challenges demand improved mental health screening and additional resources for this population. Meeting the needs of this unique population also requires significant funding and policy change to allow for increased access to mental health resources and to ensure the health of the birthing person and infant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a crucial modulator of neural development and plasticity—in the association between prenatal maternal anxiety, depression, and perceived stress and child neurodevelopment in a prospective cohort study. We included 526 eligible mother-child pairs from the Shanghai Birth Cohort in the study. Maternal mental health was assessed at mid-pregnancy using Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. The concentration of BDNF in cord blood was measured by ELISA. The offspring neurodevelopment at 24 months of age was assessed using the Bayley Scales. Linear and non-linear regression models were used. The average cord blood BDNF levels were higher in female newborns and those born via vaginal delivery, full term, and normal birth weight. Prenatal maternal anxiety (β = −0.32; 95 % CI: −0.55, −0.09), depression (β = −0.30; 95 % CI: −0.52, −0.08), and perceived stress (β = −0.41; 95 % CI: −0.71, −0.12) scores were negatively associated with social-emotional performance at 24 months of age. However, no significant associations were found between prenatal maternal anxiety, depression, or perceived stress at mid-pregnancy and cord blood BDNF levels, as well as between cord blood BDNF levels and child neurodevelopment. Maternal mental health at different timepoints during pregnancy and generalizability of the results warrant further assessment. Prenatal mental health was not associated with cord blood BDNF level and that BDNF may not be a mediator in the association between prenatal mental health and child neurodevelopment. • No statistically significant correlations were found between prenatal maternal mental health and cord blood BDNF levels. • BDNF was not associated with neurodevelopment in 2-year-olds, except for a non-linear relationship with the cognitive domain. • BDNF may not mediate the link between maternal mental health during pregnancy and early childhood neurodevelopment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empirical evidence has demonstrated associations between pre-pregnancy obesity and perinatal maternal depressive symptoms. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid derived from dietary sources that is critical for fetal brain development. Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with higher omega-3 intake, but a weaker association between dietary intake and respective maternal and cord blood omega-3 levels. Further, lower intake of omega-3 during pregnancy has been linked to higher depressive symptoms. Yet, prior studies have not examined the interactive effects of pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity (OWOB) and prenatal maternal mental health symptoms on infant cord blood omega-3 levels. Methods: Participants included 394 maternal-infant dyads from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) - Safe Passage Study in South Dakota. A pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) > 25 was used to dichotomize participants as OWOB (54%) vs. non-OWOB (46%). Prenatal maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and prenatal maternal anxiety symptoms were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We implemented linear regression models to examine the interaction term between pre-pregnancy BMI category and prenatal maternal mental health symptoms on cord blood omega-3 levels. Secondary analyses were stratified by pre-pregnancy BMI category. Results: We observed a significant interaction between pre-pregnancy BMI category and prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with cord blood omega-3 (F(4,379) = 6.21, p <.0001, adj. R2 = 0.05). Stratified models revealed an association between prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with lower cord blood omega-3 levels only among individuals with pre-pregnancy OWOB (β = -0.06, 95% CI = -0.11, -0.02; F (2,208) = 4.00, p <.05, adj R2 = 0.03). No associations were observed among non-OWOB participants. Conclusions: Findings suggest maternal-placental transfer of omega-3 may represent one pathway by which maternal metabolic and mental health impacts infant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse birth outcomes remain challenging public health problems in China. Increasing evidence indicated that prenatal depression and anxiety are associated with adverse birth outcomes, highlighting the importance and severity of prenatal depression and anxiety in China. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to further exacerbate prenatal mental health problems and increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess and compare the impacts of prenatal mental health issues on birth outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ma'anshan, Anhui, China. Participants in this study were women who visited local maternal and child health hospitals in Ma'anshan, Anhui, China. Two independent sets of individual maternal data (npre-pamdemic = 1148; npandemic = 2249) were collected. Prenatal depression and anxiety were measured online using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Adverse birth outcomes were determined using hospital-recorded infant birth weight and gestational age at delivery. In this study, we found that the pandemic cohort had lower mean EPDS and GAD-7 scores than the pre-pandemic cohort. The prevalence of prenatal depression (14.5%) and anxiety (26.7%) among the pandemic cohort were lower than the pre-pandemic cohort (18.6% and 36.3%). No significant difference was found in the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes comparing the two cohorts. Prenatal depression was associated with small gestational age only in the pandemic cohort (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.00–1.19, p = 0.042). Overall, this study highlighted an association between prenatal depression and small for gestational age in Anhui, China. Addressing prenatal depression may thus be key in improving birth outcomes. Future studies could focus on potential causal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the effect of reversible postpartum contraception use on the risk of recurrent pregnancy condition in the subsequent pregnancy and if this effect was mediated through lengthening the interpregnancy interval (IPI). We used data from the Maine Health Data Organization's Maine All Payer Claims dataset. Our study population was Maine women with a livebirth index pregnancy between 2007 and 2019 that was followed by a subsequent pregnancy starting within 60 months of index pregnancy delivery. We examined recurrence of three pregnancy conditions, separately, in groups that were not mutually exclusive: prenatal depression, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and gestational diabetes (GDM). Effective reversible postpartum contraception use was defined as any intrauterine device, implant, or moderately effective method (pills, patch, ring, injectable) initiated within 60 days of delivery. Short IPI was defined as ≤ 12 months. We used log-binomial regression models to estimate risk ratios and 95 % confidence intervals, adjusting for potential confounders. Approximately 41 % (11,448/28,056) of women initiated reversible contraception within 60 days of delivery, the prevalence of short IPI was 26 %, and the risk of pregnancy condition recurrence ranged from 38 % for HDP to 55 % for prenatal depression. Reversible contraception initiation within 60 days of delivery was not associated with recurrence of the pregnancy condition in the subsequent pregnancy (aRR ranged from 0.97 to 1.00); however, it was associated with lower risk of short IPI (aRR ranged from 0.67 to 0.74). Although initiation of postpartum reversible contraception within 60 days of delivery lengthens the IPI, our findings suggest that it does not reduce the risk of prenatal depression, HDP, or GDM recurrence. This indicates a missed opportunity for providing evidence-based healthcare and health interventions in the intrapartum period to reduce the risk of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History of childhood maltreatment (CM) is common and robustly associated with prenatal and postpartum (perinatal) depression. Given perinatal depression symptom heterogeneity, a transdiagnostic approach to measurement could enhance understanding of patterns between CM and perinatal depression. In two independently collected samples of women receiving care at perinatal psychiatry clinics (n = 523 and n = 134), we categorized longitudinal symptoms of perinatal depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep into transdiagnostic factors derived from the Research Domain Criteria and depression literatures. We split the perinatal period into four time points. We conducted a latent profile analysis of transdiagnostic factors in each period. We then used self-reported history of CM (total exposure and subtypes of abuse and neglect) to predict class membership. A three-class solution best fit our data. In relation to positive adaptive functioning, one class had relatively more positive symptoms (high adaptive), one class had average values (middle adaptive), and one class had fewer adaptive symptoms (low adaptive). More total CM and specific subtypes associated with threat/abuse increased an individual's likelihood of being in the Low Adaptive class in both samples (ORs: 0.90–0.97, p <.05). Generalizability of our results was curtailed by 1) limited racial/ethnic diversity and 2) missing data. Our results support taking a person-centered approach to characterize the relationship between perinatal depression and childhood maltreatment. Given evidence that increased exposure to childhood maltreatment is associated with worse overall symptoms, providers should consider incorporating preventative, transdiagnostic interventions for perinatal distress in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment. • Women with a history of childhood maltreatment (CM) had worse transdiagnostic mood and anxiety symptoms. • The pattern of results was consistent across pregnancy and the first year postpartum. • Retrospective total CM and abuse (not neglect) increased a person's likelihood of displaying the maladptive symptom pattern. • Results replicated in two independently collected samples with varying clinical and demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pregnancy and childbirth bring not only joy but also a concomitant sense of insecurity, which may adversely affect health, role adaptation, and relationships. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for postpartum mothers' sense of security. Methods: This cross‐sectional study used questionnaires on Parents' Postnatal Sense of Security, Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale, and the Emotional Inhibition Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to calculate the mediating effect. Results: The mean postnatal maternal security value was 44.77 ± 9.02. Multiple regression analyses revealed that several factors, including companionship of the partner during pregnancy, number of prenatal visits accompanied by the partner, complications during pregnancy, pregnancy distress, and emotional inhibition, independently predicted maternal security. Moreover, our structural equation model revealed that emotional inhibition significantly influenced maternal postpartum security directly (β = −0.30, P < 0.001). In addition, pregnancy distress affected maternal security directly (β = −0.45, P < 0.001) and indirectly (β = −0.129, P < 0.001) through emotional inhibition. Conclusion: This study indicated a lower level of postpartum maternal sense of security. Emotional inhibition partially mediates the relationship between postpartum maternal sense of security and pregnancy distress. Therefore, health care professionals providing guidance to pregnant and postpartum women on proper emotional regulation and early identification of pregnancy distress may be more effective in enhancing their postpartum sense of security. Synopsis: In China, postpartum mothers generally have a low sense of security, and emotional inhibition mediates the relationship between maternal postpartum security and pregnancy distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their associated risk factors throughout the pregnancy and postpartum process using a new screening for the early detection of mental health problems. Design: A prospective cross-sectional descriptive multicentred study. Participants were consecutively enrolled at ≥ 12 weeks' gestation and followed at three different time points: at 12–14 weeks of pregnancy, at 29–30 weeks of pregnancy, and 4–6 weeks postpartum. All women completed a mental screening at week 12–14 of pregnancy consisting of two questions from the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) and the two Whooley questions. If this screening was positive, the woman completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Setting: Seven primary care centres coordinated by a Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department in the city of Terrassa (Barcelona) in northern Spain. Participants: Pregnant women (N = 335, age 18–45 years), in their first trimester of pregnancy, and receiving prenatal care in the public health system between July 2018 and July 2020. Findings: The most relevant factors associated with positive screening for antenatal depression or anxiety during pregnancy, that appear after the first trimester of pregnancy, are systematically repeated throughout the pregnancy, and are maintained in the postpartum period were: a history of previous depression, previous anxiety, abuse, and marital problems. In weeks 12–14 early risk factors for positive depression and anxiety screening and positive EPDS were: age, smoking, educational level, employment status, previous psychological/psychiatric history and treatment, suicide in the family environment, voluntary termination of pregnancy and current planned pregnancy, living with a partner and partner's income. In weeks 29–30 risk factors were: being a skilled worker, a history of previous depression or anxiety, and marital problems. In weeks 4–6 postpartum, risk factors were: age, a history of previous depression or anxiety or psychological/psychiatric treatment, type of treatment, having been mistreated, and marital problems. Conclusions: Early screening for anxiety and depression in pregnancy may enable the creation of more effective healthcare pathways, by acting long before mental health problems in pregnant women worsen or by preventing their onset. Assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms before and after childbirth and emotional support needs to be incorporated into routine practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a common prenatal psychological complication. We aimed to investigate if maternal pre-pregnancy diet can impact prenatal depressive symptoms and the mediating role of pre-pregnancy BMI and inflammation. We used data (N 1141) from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition cohort study. We calculated Mediterranean diet adherence (MED) and dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores using data from pre-pregnancy FFQ. In the third-trimester, we assessed depressive symptoms using Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and inflammation through serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. BMI was calculated from self-reported pre-pregnancy weight. Race-stratified analyses (white and people of colour) were run. We observed no association between MED or DII tertiles and depressive symptoms. However, white participants in the MED tertile-3 had lower risk of depression (EPDS < 10) compared with tertile-1 (OR = 0·56, 95 % CI, 0·33, 0·95). White individuals in MED tertile-3 had lower BMI (MD = –1·08; 95 % CI, −1·77, −0·39) and CRP (MD = –0·53; 95 % CI, −0·95, −0·11) than tertile-1, and those in DII tertile-2 (MD = 0·44; 95 % CI, 0·03, 0·84) and tertile-3 (MD = 0·42; 95 % CI, 0·01, 0·83) had higher CRP than tertile-1. Among people of colour, neither MED nor DII was associated with BMI or CRP, but BMI was negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = –0·25, 95 % CI, −0·43, −0·06). We found no association between diet and depressive symptoms through BMI or CRP, in either race. Pre-pregnancy diet might affect the risk of prenatal depression in a race-specific way. Further research is required to explore the racial differences in the association between maternal diet and prenatal depressive symptoms/depression risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including citalopram, are widely used antidepressants during pregnancy. However, the effects of prenatal exposure to citalopram on neurodevelopment remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of citalopram exposure on early neuronal differentiation of human embryonic stem cells using a multi-omics approach. Citalopram induced time- and dose-dependent effects on gene expression and DNA methylation of genes involved in neurodevelopmental processes or linked to depression, such as BDNF, GDF11, CCL2, STC1, DDIT4 and GAD2. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed distinct clusters of stem cells, neuronal progenitors and neuroblasts, where exposure to citalopram subtly influenced progenitor subtypes. Pseudotemporal analysis showed enhanced neuronal differentiation. Our findings suggest that citalopram exposure during early neuronal differentiation influences gene expression patterns associated with neurodevelopment and depression, providing insights into its potential neurodevelopmental impact and highlighting the importance of further research to understand the long-term consequences of prenatal SSRI exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Depression during pregnancy can put strain on pregnant women's interpersonal relationships, the formation of emotional bonds with the fetus, and the adaptation to the new routine and social role post-pregnancy. Some studies have associated socioeconomic factors, emotional factors, interpersonal relationships, perceived social support, gestational risk, and the occurrence of certain diseases during pregnancy with higher risk of depression. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression during pregnancy and associated factors in low- and high-risk prenatal patients at a Brazilian university hospital. Methods: This study presents a retrospective and prospective cross-sectional design. A total of 684 prenatal psychological analysis records from a Brazilian tertiary university service were retrospectively evaluated to assess depression through the PRIME-MD questionnaire between 2002--2017. Between 2017 and 2018, 76 patients treated at the same service were prospectively evaluated with the aforementioned instrument. Medical records were accessed to obtain labor and birth data. Multivariate analyses assessed the association between sociodemographic, gestational or obstetric, and health variables and the presence of depression during pregnancy. Results: A total of 760 pregnant women were included in the study, with a depression prevalence of 20.66% (n = 157). At the time of assessment, 48 (21.05%) women from the low-risk pregnancy group and 109 (20.49%) from the high-risk pregnancy group were depressed. The mean age was 30.01 ± 6.55 years in the group with depression and 29.81 ± 6.50 years in the group without depression. In the univariate analysis, there was an association of risk for depression with absence of paid work, absence of a partner, low family income and diagnosis of epilepsy, being a protective factor the presence of diabetes during pregnancy. However, in the multivariate analysis, a lower family income, not having a partner at the time of the assessment, and the prevalence of epilepsy were independently associated with an increased risk of depression during pregnancy. Conclusion: This study showed that 1 in 5 women had depression during pregnancy, with no association with obstetric risk, but those women living in unfavorable economic conditions, without a partner, and having epilepsy were at increased risk of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antenatal depression is a significant public health issue affecting pregnant women both globally and in China. Using data from a mobile app-based screening programme, this study explored the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across different trimesters in Shenzhen. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who gave birth in any hospital in Shenzhen between July 2021 and May 2022 and underwent depression screening using an official maternal and infant health mobile app at least once during pregnancy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with cut-off scores of 5 and 10 for mild and high level of symptoms, respectively. The prevalence for each trimester was determined by calculating the proportion of women scoring 5 or higher. A variety of sociodemographic, obstetric, psychological, and lifestyle factors were assessed for their association with depressive symptoms. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify significant predictors. Results: A total of 110,584 pregnant women were included in the study, with an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms of 18.0% and a prevalence of high-level symptoms of 4.2%. Depressive symptoms were most prevalent in the first trimester (10.9%) and decreased in the second (6.2%) and third trimesters (6.3%). Only a small proportion (0.4%) of women showed persistent depressive symptoms across all trimesters. Anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy emerged as the most significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Other factors linked to an increased risk throughout pregnancy include lower marital satisfaction, living with parents-in-law, experience of negative life events, as well as drinking before and during pregnancy. Factors associated with a reduced risk throughout pregnancy include multiparity and daily physical activity. Conclusions: This large-scale study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms in Shenzhen. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups and the integration of mental health care into routine antenatal services. Continuous, dynamic monitoring of depressive symptoms for pregnant women and ensuring at-risk women receive comprehensive follow-up and appropriate psychological or psychiatric care are crucial for effectively addressing antenatal depression and improving maternal and infant health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of prenatal depression and to determine the dyadic relationship between perceived stress, marital satisfaction, and prenatal depression in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their partners. GDM during pregnancy is a very stressful event for couples. However, previous studies have largely focused on pregnant women, with few including their partners. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from 30 July to 2 December 2021. Three hundred fourteen couples with GDM completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Locke–Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Dyadic analysis was conducted using the actor–partner interdependence mediation model. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13.4% in pregnant women with GDM and 8.3% in their partners. Regarding the actor effects, perceived stress was positively associated with prenatal depression in pregnant women with GDM and their partners, respectively, and marital satisfaction acted as a mediating role. Regarding the partner effects, paternal perceived stress was negatively associated with maternal marital satisfaction, and maternal marital satisfaction mediated the association between paternal perceived stress and maternal prenatal depression. Dyadic effects of perceived stress, marital satisfaction, and prenatal depression exist in couples with GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lower childhood PPVT performance predicted higher adolescent depressive symptoms. • Higher T2 IL1-RA was associated with lower childhood PPVT performance. • Higher T2 IL-6 was associated with greater adolescent depressive symptoms. • Partial mediation of T2 IL-1RA on adolescent depressive symptoms via childhood PPVT performance. • No T1 findings nor any significant associations with T2 sTNF-RII and IL-8. Accumulating evidence indicates that higher prenatal maternal inflammation is associated with increased depression risk in adolescent and adult-aged offspring. Prenatal maternal inflammation (PNMI) may increase the likelihood for offspring to have lower cognitive performance, which, in turn, may heighten risk for depression onset. Therefore, this study explored the potential mediating role of childhood cognitive performance in the relationship between PNMI and adolescent depressive symptoms in offspring. Participants included 696 mother-offspring dyads from the Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS) cohort. Biomarkers of maternal inflammation [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and soluble TNF receptor-II (sTNF-RII)] were assayed from first (T1) and second trimester (T2) sera. Childhood (ages 9–11) cognitive performance was assessed via standardized Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), a measure of receptive vocabulary correlated with general intelligence. Adolescent (ages 15–17) depressive symptoms were assessed via self-report. There were no significant associations between T1 biomarkers and childhood PPVT or adolescent depressive symptoms. Higher T2 IL1-RA was directly associated with lower childhood PPVT (b = -0.21, SE = 0.08, t = -2.55, p = 0.01), but not with adolescent depressive symptoms. T2 IL-6 was not directly associated with childhood PPVT, but higher T2 IL-6 was directly associated at borderline significance with greater depressive symptoms in adolescence (b = 0.05, SE = 0.03, t = 1.96, p = 0.05). Lower childhood PPVT predicted significantly higher adolescent depressive symptoms (b = -0.07, SE = 0.02, t = -2.99, p < 0.01). There was a significant indirect effect of T2 IL-1RA on adolescent depressive symptoms via childhood PPVT (b = 0.03, 95 % CI = 0.002–0.03) indicating a partially mediated effect. No significant associations were found with T2 sTNF-RII nor IL-8. Lower childhood cognitive performance, such as that indicated by a lower PPVT score, represents a potential mechanism through which prenatal maternal inflammation contributes to adolescent depression risk in offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microglia function is not directly associated with sex-dependent depression risk. • Microglial function during adulthood interacts with environmental stressors to affect sex-dependent depression risk. • Microglial function during the perinatal period interacts with exposure to prenatal maternal depression to affect sex-dependent depression risk of offspring. There is a two-fold higher incidence of depression in females compared to men with recent studies suggesting a role for microglia in conferring this sex-dependent depression risk. In this study we investigated the nature of this relation. Using GWAS enrichment, gene-set enrichment analysis and Mendelian randomization, we found minimal evidence for a direct relation between genes functionally related to microglia and sex-dependent genetic risk for depression. We then used expression quantitative trait loci and single nucleus RNA-sequencing resources to generate polygenic scores (PGS) representative of individual variation in microglial function in the adult (UK Biobank; N = 54753–72682) and fetal (ALSPAC; N = 1452) periods. The adult microglial PGS moderated the association between BMI (UK Biobank; beta = 0.001, 95 %CI 0.0009 to 0.003, P = 7.74E-6) and financial insecurity (UK Biobank; beta = 0.001, 95 %CI 0.005 to 0.015, P = 2E-4) with depressive symptoms in females. The fetal microglia PGS moderated the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and offspring depressive symptoms at 24 years in females (ALSPAC; beta = 0.04, 95 %CI 0.004 to 0.07, P = 0.03). We found no evidence for an interaction between the microglial PGS and depression risk factors in males. Our results illustrate a role for microglial function in the conferral of sex-dependent depression risk following exposure to a depression risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Women with moderate-severe depressive symptoms in late pregnancy have lower placental QPRT and ACMSD expression. • Low expression of placental IDO and QPRT associates with increased IL-6 levels and QUIN/KYNA ratio in maternal plasma. • Interactions between placental enzyme expression and peripheral cytokine and metabolite patterns differ in depressed women. Perinatal depression (including antenatal-, postnatal-, and depression that spans both timepoints) is a prevalent disorder with high morbidity that affects both mother and child. Even though the full biological blueprints of perinatal depression remain incomplete, multiple studies indicate that, at least for antenatal depression, the disorder has an inflammatory component likely linked to a dysregulation of the enzymatic kynurenine pathway. The production of neuroactive metabolites in this pathway, including quinolinic acid (QUIN), is upregulated in the placenta due to the multiple immunological roles of the metabolites during pregnancy. Since neuroactive metabolites produced by the pathway also may affect mood by directly affecting glutamate neurotransmission, we sought to investigate whether the placental expression of kynurenine pathway enzymes controlling QUIN production was associated with both peripheral inflammation and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. 68 placentas obtained at birth were analyzed using qPCR to determine the expression of kynurenine pathway enzymes. Cytokines and metabolites were quantified in plasma using high-sensitivity electroluminescence and ultra-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) throughout pregnancy and the post-partum. Associations between these factors were assessed using robust linear regression with ranked enzymes. Low placental quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRT), the enzyme responsible for degrading QUIN, was associated with higher IL-6 and higher QUIN/kynurenic acid ratios at the 3rd trimester. Moreover, women with severe depressive symptoms in the 3rd trimester had significantly lower placental expression of both QPRT and 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate-6-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD); impaired activity of these two enzymes leads to QUIN accumulation. Overall, our data support that a compromised placental environment, featuring low expression of critical kynurenine pathway enzymes is associated with increased levels of plasma cytokines and the dysregulated kynurenine metabolite pattern observed in depressed women during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal negative life events (NLEs) have been linked to adverse health outcomes in children. However, few studies examine this relationship during late childhood using trajectory analyses. Additionally, the impact of specific NLEs domains on child development remains unclear. This study aims to longitudinally explore the association between NLEs (cumulative score and specific NLEs domains) and child outcomes from birth to late childhood. 1135 mother-child pairs from the French EDEN cohort were followed from 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy up to 11 years of age. Maternal self-reports of prenatal NLEs were collected immediately after birth, then analyzed as a cumulative score and by NLEs domain. Children's emotional and behavioral symptoms were assessed at 4 timepoints through the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children of mothers exposed to ≥3 NLEs were more likely to follow trajectories of high levels of peer relationship problems (aOR [95 % CI] = 5.69 [1.74–18.69]), emotional symptoms (aOR [95 % CI] = 3.05 [1.08–8.63]), and conduct problems (aOR [95 %] = 3.53 [1.20–10.42]). Among the domains of NLEs, only events related to housing, finance, and living conditions were significantly associated with high emotional and behavioral difficulties trajectories (aOR [95%CI] = 2.71[1.26–5.81]). Potential attrition bias due to a higher dropout rate for children experiencing early indications of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Findings support the relationship between prenatal NLEs and child outcomes, underscoring the importance of assessing prenatal stressors across life domains to identify mothers who might be in need of support. • Children exposed to 3+ prenatal negative life events (NLEs) face higher emotional, conduct, and peer problems. • Events related to housing, finance, and living conditions significantly influence total child difficulties. • Assessing NLEs during prenatal follow-up may help identify high-risk individuals for appropriate multidisciplinary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Touch is an essential form of mother-child interaction, instigating better social bonding and emotional stability. We used diffuse optical tomography to explore the relationship between total haemoglobin (HbT) responses to affective touch in the child's brain at two years of age and maternal self-reported prenatal depressive symptoms (EPDS). Affective touch was implemented via slow brushing of the child's right forearm at 3 cm/s and non-affective touch via fast brushing at 30 cm/s and HbT responses were recorded on the left hemisphere. We discovered a cluster in the postcentral gyrus exhibiting a negative correlation (Pearson's r = −0.84, p = 0.015 corrected for multiple comparisons) between child HbT response to affective touch and EPDS at gestational week 34. Based on region of interest (ROI) analysis, we found negative correlations between child responses to affective touch and maternal prenatal EPDS at gestational week 14 in the precentral gyrus, Rolandic operculum and secondary somatosensory cortex. The responses to non-affective touch did not correlate with EPDS in these regions. The number of mother-child dyads was 16. However, by utilising high-density optode arrangements, individualised anatomical models, and video and accelerometry to monitor movement, we were able to minimize methodological sources of variability in the data. The results show that maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be associated with reduced child responses to affective touch in the temporoparietal cortex. Responses to affective touch may be considered as potential biomarkers for psychosocial development in children. Early identification of and intervention in maternal depression may be important already during early pregnancy. • Self-reported depression scores (EPDS) were collected from mothers during pregnancy. • Hemodynamic responses to affective touch in two-year-old child brain were recorded. • Child affective touch responses correlated negatively with prenatal EPDS. • Correlation was found in the Postcentral gyrus and Rolandic operculum. • Non-affective touch responses in same areas showed no significant correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]