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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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Maternal depression and infant daytime cortisol.

Schale Azak¹, Robert Murison, Tore Wentzel-Larsen

¹Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094, Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway. schale.azak@lds.no

Developmental Psychobiology

|April 11, 2012

Summary

Maternal depression, especially with anxiety, impacts infant cortisol levels. Infants of mothers with comorbid depression and anxiety showed altered cortisol patterns at 6 and 12 months, suggesting stress regulation changes.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Neuroendocrinology
Perinatal Mental Health

Background:

Maternal mental health significantly influences infant development.
Depressive disorders in mothers are linked to altered infant stress responses.
The impact of comorbid maternal depression and anxiety on infant cortisol is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of maternal depressive disorder on infant daytime cortisol production.
To compare cortisol patterns in infants of mothers with comorbid depression and anxiety, depression only, and no depression.
To examine changes in infant cortisol regulation across the first 18 months of life.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal study of three infant groups based on maternal mental health status.
Measurement of infant salivary cortisol at 6, 12, and 18 months.
Repeated assessments of parenting stress and maternal depression symptoms.

Main Results:

Infants of mothers with comorbid depression and anxiety exhibited higher morning-to-bedtime and bedtime cortisol levels at 6 and 12 months.
These differences in cortisol production were not significant at 18 months.
Maternal depression and anxiety levels correlated with infant cortisol patterns.

Conclusions:

Comorbid maternal depression and anxiety are associated with dysregulated infant cortisol production in early infancy.
The findings suggest potential alterations in infant stress regulatory capacities or maternal coping strategies by 18 months.
Early identification and intervention for maternal mental health issues are crucial for infant well-being.