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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
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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
3.9K
Perinatal Maternal Mental Health, Fetal Programming and Child Development
Andrew J Lewis1,2, Emma Austin1, Rebecca Knapp3
1School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne 3102, Australia. eeaust002@myacu.edu.au.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 16, 2016
Summary
Maternal mental disorders during pregnancy can impact child development through fetal programming. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for targeted interventions to support healthy child development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Reproductive Health
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Maternal mental health during pregnancy significantly influences child development.
- Pregnancy mental health conditions are complex, varying in type, timing, and severity.
- Associated lifestyle factors like smoking and poor diet complicate research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms by which maternal mental disorders affect fetal development.
- To explore fetal programming effects within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework.
- To identify research gaps concerning specific maternal mental disorders and fetal development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on fetal programming mechanisms.
- Examination of studies investigating maternal mental disorders and their impact on fetal development.
- Analysis of hormonal, placental, and epigenetic pathways.
Main Results:
- Maternal mental disorders can influence fetal development through hormonal priming (e.g., glucocorticoids), placental function alterations, and epigenetic changes.
- Research primarily focuses on depression and anxiety, with limited investigation into severe conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- Few studies utilize diagnostic measures, and research on less common disorders is scarce.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to elucidate specific biological mechanisms of fetal programming by maternal mental disorders.
- Longitudinal studies with diagnostic measures are essential to understand early developmental vulnerabilities.
- Identifying these mechanisms will enable targeted interventions to prevent intergenerational transmission of mental health issues.
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