Depressed pregnant women increase risk of depression in their child

By Park Sae-jin Posted : October 21, 2013, 16:33 Updated : October 21, 2013, 16:33
It has been found that during pregnancy, mothers who are depressed increase the risk of depression in their child.

According to a British study, the depression in child is seen in childhood. Prof. Carmine Pariante of King’s College at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, the development of individual’s brain starts in the uterus, not at birth.

Child development in the womb is affected by the stress hormone; it is confirmed by Prof. Celso Arango of Gregoria Maranon General University Hospital, Madria.

Researchers at Bristol University said that if medical treatment is provided during pregnancy, it could lower the risk of future mental health problems in the child.

Around 8,000 mother’s offspring who had postnatal or antenatal depression was studied and it has been found that risk is around 1.3 times higher than normal at age 18.

The study is published in JAMA Psychiatry. Dr. Rebecca Pearson, lead researcher told the BBC that it should be taken seriously at the initial stage and treated well in pregnancy so that it can lower the risk.

It seems as a long term risk to the child, although it was an association. So it needs a further investigation.

Long lasting effects are seen due to depression in pregnancy. Mental health of a child is totally dependent on the mother’s mental health.

Women should take the proper treatment of depression before pregnancy, but if they are found pregnant with depression then it is even more necessary to be treated successfully – otherwise, it can harm both the life of mother and child.

Various different factors may cause postnatal and antenatal depression. Environmental factors such as social support have a bigger impact in postnatal depression.

The data come from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children - a long-term health research project, also known as Children of the 90s.

By Ruchi Singh
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