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Maternal panic disorder: Infant prematurity and low birth weight
Susan L Warren1, Camellia Racu, Vanessa Gregg
1The George Washington University, Ross 550, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA. psyslw@gwumc.edu
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|March 28, 2006
Summary
Infants born to mothers with panic disorder (PD) showed lower birth weight corrected for gestational age compared to controls. This pilot study suggests a potential link between maternal PD and infant health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Maternal Mental Health
Background:
- Panic disorder (PD) is a prevalent anxiety condition.
- Maternal mental health during pregnancy can impact fetal development.
- Previous research has explored links between maternal psychopathology and infant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if infants of mothers with panic disorder (PD) face increased risks for prematurity and low birth weight.
- To compare birth outcomes between infants of mothers with and without a history of PD.
- To identify potential associations between maternal PD and infant anthropometric measures.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study design utilizing retrospective medical record review.
- Inclusion of 25 mothers diagnosed with PD and 33 control mothers.
- Data collection via diagnostic interviews, medical records, and questionnaires on demographics and life stress.
Main Results:
- Infants of mothers with PD did not show a significantly higher risk for prematurity.
- Infants born to mothers with PD exhibited smaller birth weight corrected for gestational age.
- These findings persisted after controlling for potential confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Maternal panic disorder may be associated with reduced birth weight corrected for gestational age in infants.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
- Understanding the impact of PD during pregnancy may offer insights into infant development and psychopathology.
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