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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

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

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Preconception parental personality disorder and psychosocial outcomes during the perinatal period: a prospective

Claire A Wilson1, Hanafi Mohamad Husin2, S Ghazaleh Dashti3

  • 1Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. claire.1.wilson@kcl.ac.uk.

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|July 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Individuals with preconception personality disorder face higher risks of antenatal anxiety and reduced social support during the perinatal period. These findings suggest a need for enhanced support for parents with personality disorder and their families.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Developmental psychology
  • Psychiatric epidemiology

Background:

  • Personality disorder in young adulthood is linked to potential adverse perinatal outcomes.
  • Early identification of at-risk individuals is crucial for parental and child well-being.
  • Understanding preconception mental health impacts is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the perinatal psychosocial outcomes associated with preconception personality disorder.
  • To identify specific risks faced by birthing individuals with personality disorder before pregnancy.
  • To inform support strategies for vulnerable families during the perinatal period.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective analysis of 398 birthing individuals and 609 infants from the Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS).
  • Preconception personality disorder assessed at age 24 using the Standardised Assessment of Personality (SAP).
  • Parental outcomes evaluated during pregnancy and one year postpartum using log-binomial generalized estimating equations.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with preconception personality disorder were twice as likely to experience antenatal anxiety and reduced social support.
  • Weaker associations observed for stressful life events, poorer partner relationship quality, and depressive symptoms.
  • Null associations found for parent self-efficacy and perceived parent-infant bond.

Conclusions:

  • Preconception personality disorder identifies a vulnerable group requiring additional perinatal support.
  • Early intervention and ongoing support are beneficial for individuals with personality disorder and their families.
  • Addressing mental health prior to pregnancy can mitigate adverse perinatal psychosocial outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Mental healthPerinatalPersonality disorderPreconceptionSocial support

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