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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Depression during pregnancy: is the developmental impact earlier in boys? A prospective case-control study

Priscille Gerardin1, Jaqueline Wendland, Nicolas Bodeau

  • 1CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, Département de Pédiatrie Médicale, Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, 1 Rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen Cedex, France. priscille.gerardin@chu-rouen.fr

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|January 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal depression impacts infant development differently in males and females. Male newborns showed motor and regulation deficits, while 1-year-olds experienced increased anxiety, impulsivity, and sleep issues, particularly males.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Perinatal Mental Health
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Prenatal maternal stress affects offspring development, with observed sex differences in animal models.
  • Understanding the impact of prenatal depression on infant development is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the gender-specific effects of prenatal depression on newborn and 1-year-old infant characteristics.
  • To control for confounding variables in the relationship between prenatal depression and infant outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective case-control study screening 205 pregnant women for depressive symptoms.
  • Inclusion criteria based on DSM-IV criteria for major depressive episode; exclusion of postnatal depression.
  • Infant assessments included the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) and Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal depression correlated with maternal anxiety and stress.
  • Male newborns of depressed mothers had lower NBAS scores in motor skills and regulation.
  • One-year-olds exposed to prenatal depression showed higher generalized anxiety (especially males), activity/impulsivity, and sleep problems.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal depression influences infant development in a gender-related manner, mirroring animal study findings.
  • Observed early gender differences linked to prenatal depression may explain higher male prevalence of child psychiatric disorders.
Abstract

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