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Positive maternal mental health during pregnancy and psychiatric problems in children from early childhood to late childhood
- Anna Lähdepuro, Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, Polina Girchenko, Pia M. Villa, Kati Heinonen, Jari Lahti, Riikka Pyhälä, Hannele Laivuori, Eero Kajantie, Katri Räikkönen
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- Journal:
- Development and Psychopathology , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 October 2023, pp. 1-13
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Negative maternal mental health during pregnancy increases the risk of psychiatric problems in children, but research on the potential benefits of positive maternal mental health during pregnancy is scarce. We investigated associations between positive maternal mental health composite score, based on reports of maternal positive affect, curiosity, and social support during pregnancy, and children’s psychiatric problems (Child Behavior Checklist) at ages 1.9−5.9 and 7.1−12.1 years among 2636 mother–child dyads of the Prediction and Prevention of Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction study. For each standard deviation higher positive maternal mental health score during pregnancy, total psychiatric problems were 1.37 (95% confidence interval (CI) −1.79,−0.95) t-scores lower in early childhood and 1.75 (95% CI −2.24,−1.26) t-scores lower in late childhood. These associations were independent of covariates and of negative maternal mental health. Total psychiatric problems remained stably lower from early childhood to late childhood in children of mothers with higher positive mental health during pregnancy, whereas they increased in children of mothers with lower positive mental health. Positive maternal mental health in child’s late childhood partially mediated the effects of positive maternal mental health during pregnancy on children’s psychiatric problems. Supporting positive maternal mental health may benefit mothers and children.
Maternal depression and inflammation during pregnancy
- Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, Polina Girchenko, Rachel Robinson, Soili M. Lehto, Elena Toffol, Kati Heinonen, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Eero Kajantie, Hannele Laivuori, Pia M. Villa, Esa Hämäläinen, Jari Lahti, Katri Räikkönen
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 50 / Issue 11 / August 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 August 2019, pp. 1839-1851
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Background
Maternal depression during pregnancy increases the risk for adverse developmental outcomes in children. However, the underpinning biological mechanisms remain unknown. We tested whether depression was associated with levels of and change in the inflammatory state during pregnancy, if early pregnancy overweight/obesity or diabetes/hypertensive pregnancy disorders accounted for/mediated these effects, and if depression added to the inflammation that typically accompanies these conditions.
MethodsWe analyzed plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and glycoprotein acetyls at three consecutive stages during pregnancy, derived history of depression diagnoses before pregnancy from Care Register for Healthcare (HILMO) (N = 375) and self-reports (N = 347) and depressive symptoms during pregnancy using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale completed concurrently to blood samplings (N = 295). Data on early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and diabetes/hypertensive pregnancy disorders came from medical records.
ResultsHigher overall hsCRP levels, but not change, during pregnancy were predicted by history of depression diagnosis before pregnancy [HILMO: mean difference (MD) = 0.69 standard deviation (s.d.) units; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26–1.11, self-report: MD = 0.56 s.d.; 95% CI 0.17–0.94] and higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy (0.06 s.d. per s.d. increase; 95% CI 0.00–0.13). History of depression diagnosis before pregnancy also predicted higher overall glycoprotein acetyls (HILMO: MD = 0.52 s.d.; 95% CI 0.12–0.93). These associations were not explained by diabetes/hypertensive disorders, but were accounted for and mediated by early pregnancy BMI. Furthermore, in obese women, overall hsCRP levels increased as depressive symptoms during pregnancy increased (p = 0.006 for interaction).
ConclusionsDepression is associated with a proinflammatory state during pregnancy. These associations are mediated by early pregnancy BMI, and depressive symptoms during pregnancy aggravate the inflammation related to obesity.
Associations of antenatal glucocorticoid exposure with mental health in children
- Elina Wolford, Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, Polina Girchenko, Jari Lipsanen, Soile Tuovinen, Jari Lahti, Kati Heinonen, Esa Hämäläinen, Eero Kajantie, Anu-Katriina Pesonen, Pia M. Villa, Hannele Laivuori, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Katri Räikkönen
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 50 / Issue 2 / January 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 28 January 2019, pp. 247-257
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Background
Synthetic glucocorticoids, to enhance fetal maturation, are a standard treatment when preterm birth before 34 gestational weeks is imminent. While morbidity- and mortality-related benefits may outweigh potential neurodevelopmental harms in children born preterm (<37 gestational weeks), this may not hold true when pregnancy continues to term (⩾37 gestational weeks). We studied the association of antenatal betamethasone exposure on child mental health in preterm and term children.
MethodsWe included 4708 women and their children, born 2006–2010, from the Prediction and Prevention of Pre-eclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction Study with information on both antenatal betamethasone treatment and child mental and behavioral disorders from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register from the child's birth to 31 December 2016. Additional follow-up data on mother-reported psychiatric problems and developmental milestones were available for 2640 children at 3.5 (s.d. = 0.07) years-of-age.
ResultsOf the children, 187 were born preterm (61 betamethasone-exposed) and 4521 at term (56 betamethasone-exposed). The prevalence of any mental and behavioral, psychological development, emotional and behavioral, and comorbid disorders was higher in the betamethasone-exposed, compared to non-exposed children [odds ratio 2.76 (95% confidence interval 1.76–4.32), 3.61 (2.19–5.95), 3.29 (1.86–5.82), and 6.04 (3.25–11.27), respectively]. Levels of psychiatric problems and prevalence of failure to meet the age-appropriate development in personal-social skills were also higher in mother-reports of betamethasone-exposed children. These associations did not vary significantly between preterm and term children.
ConclusionsAntenatal betamethasone exposure may be associated with mental health problems in children born preterm and in those who end up being born at term.
Maternal early pregnancy obesity and depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy
- Satu M. Kumpulainen, Polina Girchenko, Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Soile Tuovinen, Anu-Katriina Pesonen, Kati Heinonen, Eero Kajantie, Pia M. Villa, Esa Hämäläinen, Hannele Laivuori, Katri Räikkönen
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 48 / Issue 14 / October 2018
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 17 January 2018, pp. 2353-2363
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Background
Previous studies have linked maternal obesity with depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy. It remains unknown whether obesity associates with consistently elevated depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy, predicts symptoms postpartum when accounting for antenatal symptoms, and if co-morbid hypertensive and diabetic disorders add to these associations. We addressed these questions in a sample of Finnish women whom we followed during and after pregnancy.
MethodsEarly pregnancy body mass index, derived from the Finnish Medical Birth Register and hospital records in 3234 PREDO study participants, was categorized into underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–24.99 kg/m2), overweight (25–29.99 kg/m2), and obese (⩾30 kg/m2) groups. The women completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale biweekly during pregnancy, and at 2.4 (s.d. = 1.2) and/or 28.2 (s.d. = 4.2) weeks after pregnancy.
ResultsIn comparison to normal weight women, overweight, and obese women reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and had higher odds of clinically significant depressive symptoms during (23% and 43%, respectively) and after pregnancy (22% and 36%, respectively). Underweight women had 68% higher odds of clinically significant depressive symptoms after pregnancy. Overweight and obesity also predicted higher depressive symptoms after pregnancy in women not reporting clinically relevant symptomatology during pregnancy. Hypertensive and diabetic disorders did not explain or add to these associations.
ConclusionsMaternal early pregnancy overweight and obesity and depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy are associated. Mental health promotion should be included as an integral part of lifestyle interventions in early pregnancy obesity and extended to benefit also overweight and underweight women.