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Shekhar S, Hirvi P, Maria A, Kotilahti K, Tuulari JJ, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Nissilä I. Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and child brain responses to affective touch at two years of age. J Affect Disord 2024; 356:177-189. [PMID: 38508459 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Touch is an essential form of mother-child interaction, instigating better social bonding and emotional stability. METHODS We used diffuse optical tomography to explore the relationship between total haemoglobin (HbT) responses to affective touch in the child's brain at two years of age and maternal self-reported prenatal depressive symptoms (EPDS). Affective touch was implemented via slow brushing of the child's right forearm at 3 cm/s and non-affective touch via fast brushing at 30 cm/s and HbT responses were recorded on the left hemisphere. RESULTS We discovered a cluster in the postcentral gyrus exhibiting a negative correlation (Pearson's r = -0.84, p = 0.015 corrected for multiple comparisons) between child HbT response to affective touch and EPDS at gestational week 34. Based on region of interest (ROI) analysis, we found negative correlations between child responses to affective touch and maternal prenatal EPDS at gestational week 14 in the precentral gyrus, Rolandic operculum and secondary somatosensory cortex. The responses to non-affective touch did not correlate with EPDS in these regions. LIMITATIONS The number of mother-child dyads was 16. However, by utilising high-density optode arrangements, individualised anatomical models, and video and accelerometry to monitor movement, we were able to minimize methodological sources of variability in the data. CONCLUSIONS The results show that maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be associated with reduced child responses to affective touch in the temporoparietal cortex. Responses to affective touch may be considered as potential biomarkers for psychosocial development in children. Early identification of and intervention in maternal depression may be important already during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashank Shekhar
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Durham, NC, USA; University of Turku, Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Finland
| | - Pauliina Hirvi
- Aalto University, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Finland; Aalto University, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis, Finland
| | - Ambika Maria
- University of Turku, Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Finland
| | - Kalle Kotilahti
- Aalto University, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- University of Turku, Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Finland; Turku Collegium for Science, Medicine and Technology, TCSMT, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- University of Turku, Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- University of Turku, Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Finland
| | - Ilkka Nissilä
- Aalto University, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Finland.
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Alnasheet AM, Abdulaal NA, Kamal N. The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Pregnancy-Related Anxiety in Bahrain. Cureus 2024; 16:e57404. [PMID: 38694669 PMCID: PMC11062578 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives We aim to estimate the prevalence of anxiety among pregnant women, explore the possible risk factors, and compare the presence of anxiety in each gestational trimester in all pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinics at a tertiary care hospital in Manama, Bahrain. Methods This study followed a cross-sectional research design at the antenatal clinics of Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama, Bahrain. Direct interviews with 513 participants were conducted using the Pregnancy Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised-2 (PRAQ-R2). Results Most participants (63%) were 25-35 years old. The majority (85.6%) were Bahraini nationals, and 52.2% were university-educated. Almost two-thirds were unemployed, 28.1% had associated chronic comorbidities, 3.1% had associated psychiatric disorders, 15% had a high level of anxiety, and 38% had a moderate level of anxiety. Employed participants had a significantly higher level of anxiety (p=0.022) than housewives/unemployed participants. Participants' levels of anxiety differed significantly according to their gestational age (p=0.043), with the highest anxiety among those in their third trimester (15.7%). Participants' anxiety levels were significantly higher among those with previously complicated pregnancies (p=0.002). Moreover, those with unplanned current pregnancy had significantly higher anxiety levels (p=0.019). Conclusions This study showed that anxiety seems to be a common disorder among pregnant women in Bahrain. It was more prevalent during the third trimester, and its occurrence was associated with the pregnant woman's employment, the occurrence of previously complicated pregnancies, and unplanned current pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nada A Abdulaal
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Al Kharj Military Industries Corporation Hospital (AKMICH), Riyadh, SAU
| | - Nahid Kamal
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, BHR
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Wu Y, De Asis-Cruz J, Limperopoulos C. Brain structural and functional outcomes in the offspring of women experiencing psychological distress during pregnancy. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02449-0. [PMID: 38418579 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02449-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
In-utero exposure to maternal psychological distress is increasingly linked with disrupted fetal and neonatal brain development and long-term neurobehavioral dysfunction in children and adults. Elevated maternal psychological distress is associated with changes in fetal brain structure and function, including reduced hippocampal and cerebellar volumes, increased cerebral cortical gyrification and sulcal depth, decreased brain metabolites (e.g., choline and creatine levels), and disrupted functional connectivity. After birth, reduced cerebral and cerebellar gray matter volumes, increased cerebral cortical gyrification, altered amygdala and hippocampal volumes, and disturbed brain microstructure and functional connectivity have been reported in the offspring months or even years after exposure to maternal distress during pregnancy. Additionally, adverse child neurodevelopment outcomes such as cognitive, language, learning, memory, social-emotional problems, and neuropsychiatric dysfunction are being increasingly reported after prenatal exposure to maternal distress. The mechanisms by which prenatal maternal psychological distress influences early brain development include but are not limited to impaired placental function, disrupted fetal epigenetic regulation, altered microbiome and inflammation, dysregulated hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, altered distribution of the fetal cardiac output to the brain, and disrupted maternal sleep and appetite. This review will appraise the available literature on the brain structural and functional outcomes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring of pregnant women experiencing elevated psychological distress. In addition, it will also provide an overview of the mechanistic underpinnings of brain development changes in stress response and discuss current treatments for elevated maternal psychological distress, including pharmacotherapy (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and non-pharmacotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavior therapy). Finally, it will end with a consideration of future directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | | | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
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Hennessey EMP, Swales DA, Markant J, Hoffman MC, Hankin BL, Davis EP. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy predicts infant attention to affective faces. J Affect Disord 2024; 344:104-114. [PMID: 37802320 PMCID: PMC10841611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal anxiety is a known influence on offspring development. General anxiety and pregnancy-related anxiety (a distinct type of anxiety encompassing fears associated with pregnancy) are associated with offspring socioemotional development, with potential consequences for later emotional and behavioral problems. This study examines whether maternal pregnancy-related and general anxiety relate to infant attention to affective faces, a process which plays an integral role in early socioemotional development. METHODS Participants included 86 mothers and their 6-month-old infants (56.3 % female). Mothers completed measures of pregnancy-related and general anxiety three times through gestation. Infants' attention to affective faces was assessed with an eye-tracking task during which a series of face pairs were presented (happy, angry, or sad face paired with a neutral face). Overall attention measures included attention-holding (total looking time) and attention-orienting (latency to faces); affect-biased attention measures included proportion of total looking time to emotional faces and latency difference score. RESULTS Higher maternal pregnancy-related anxiety across gestation predicted decreased infant attention-holding to affective faces [F(1,80) = 7.232, p = .009, partial η2 = 0.083]. No differences were found in infant attention-orienting or affect-biased attention. LIMITATIONS Reliance on a correlational study design precludes the ability to make causal inferences. CONCLUSIONS Maternal pregnancy-related anxiety is an important predictor of child outcomes. We provide novel evidence that pregnancy-related anxiety predicts infant attention to emotional faces, behaviors which have important implications for socioemotional development. Providers may consider pregnancy-related anxiety as a target for screening and treatment that may benefit both pregnant individual and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danielle A Swales
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie Markant
- Department of Psychology & Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - M Camille Hoffman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Benjamin L Hankin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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Kumpulainen V, Copeland A, Pulli EP, Silver E, Kataja EL, Saukko E, Merisaari H, Lewis JD, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Tuulari JJ. Prenatal and Postnatal Maternal Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With White Matter Integrity in 5-Year-Olds in a Sex-Specific Manner. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:924-935. [PMID: 37220833 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal and postnatal maternal psychological distress predicts various detrimental consequences on social, behavioral, and cognitive development of offspring, especially in girls. Maturation of white matter (WM) continues from prenatal development into adulthood and is thus susceptible to exposures both before and after birth. METHODS WM microstructural features of 130 children (mean age, 5.36 years; range, 5.04-5.79 years; 63 girls) and their association with maternal prenatal and postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms were investigated with diffusion tensor imaging, tract-based spatial statistics, and regression analyses. Maternal questionnaires were collected during first, second, and third trimesters and at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for depressive symptoms and Symptom Checklist-90 for general anxiety. Covariates included child's sex; child's age; maternal prepregnancy body mass index; maternal age; socioeconomic status; and exposures to smoking, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and synthetic glucocorticoids during pregnancy. RESULTS Prenatal second-trimester EPDS scores were positively associated with fractional anisotropy in boys (p < .05, 5000 permutations) after controlling for EPDS scores 3 months postpartum. In contrast, postpartum EPDS scores at 3 months correlated negatively with fractional anisotropy (p < .01, 5000 permutations) in widespread areas only in girls after controlling for prenatal second-trimester EPDS scores. Perinatal anxiety was not associated with WM structure. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that prenatal and postnatal maternal psychological distress is associated with brain WM tract developmental alterations in a sex- and timing-dependent manner. Future studies including behavioral data are required to consolidate associative outcomes for these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venla Kumpulainen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Anni Copeland
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Elmo P Pulli
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eero Silver
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Ekaterina Saukko
- Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Merisaari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Medicine, Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku Collegium for Science, Medicine and Technology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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6
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Li X, Qureshi MNI, Laplante DP, Elgbeili G, Jones SL, Long X, Paquin V, Bezgin G, Lussier F, King S, Rosa-Neto P. Atypical brain structure and function in young adults exposed to disaster-related prenatal maternal stress: Project Ice Storm. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1849-1863. [PMID: 37732456 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Studies have shown that prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) affects brain structure and function in childhood. However, less research has examined whether PNMS effects on brain structure and function extend to young adulthood. We recruited women who were pregnant during or within 3 months following the 1998 Quebec ice storm, assessed their PNMS, and prospectively followed-up their children. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI were obtained from 19-year-old young adults with (n = 39) and without (n = 65) prenatal exposure to the ice storm. We examined between-group differences in gray matter volume (GMV), surface area (SA), and cortical thickness (CT). We used the brain regions showing between-group GMV differences as seeds to compare between-group functional connectivity. Within the Ice Storm group, we examined (1) associations between PNMS and the atypical GMV, SA, CT, and functional connectivity, and (2) moderation by timing of exposure. Primarily, we found that, compared to Controls, the Ice Storm youth had larger GMV and higher functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex, the precuneus, the left occipital pole, and the right hippocampus; they also had larger CT, but not SA, of the left occipital pole. Within the Ice Storm group, maternal subjective distress during preconception and mid-to-late pregnancy was associated with atypical left occipital pole CT. These results suggest the long-lasting impact of disaster-related PNMS on child brain structure and functional connectivity. Our study also indicates timing-specific effects of the subjective aspect of PNMS on occipital thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Li
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Muhammad Naveed Iqbal Qureshi
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - David P Laplante
- Centre for Child Development and Mental Health, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sherri Lee Jones
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xiangyu Long
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vincent Paquin
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gleb Bezgin
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Firoza Lussier
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Suzanne King
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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7
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Kotsakis Ruehlmann A, Sammallahti S, Cortés Hidalgo AP, Bakulski KM, Binder EB, Campbell ML, Caramaschi D, Cecil CAM, Colicino E, Cruceanu C, Czamara D, Dieckmann L, Dou J, Felix JF, Frank J, Håberg SE, Herberth G, Hoang TT, Houtepen LC, Hüls A, Koen N, London SJ, Magnus MC, Mancano G, Mulder RH, Page CM, Räikkönen K, Röder S, Schmidt RJ, Send TS, Sharp G, Stein DJ, Streit F, Tuhkanen J, Witt SH, Zar HJ, Zenclussen AC, Zhang Y, Zillich L, Wright R, Lahti J, Brunst KJ. Epigenome-wide meta-analysis of prenatal maternal stressful life events and newborn DNA methylation. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:5090-5100. [PMID: 36899042 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02010-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stressful life events are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Biological mechanisms underlying these associations are largely unknown, but DNA methylation likely plays a role. This meta-analysis included twelve non-overlapping cohorts from ten independent longitudinal studies (N = 5,496) within the international Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics consortium to examine maternal stressful life events during pregnancy and DNA methylation in cord blood. Children whose mothers reported higher levels of cumulative maternal stressful life events during pregnancy exhibited differential methylation of cg26579032 in ALKBH3. Stressor-specific domains of conflict with family/friends, abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional), and death of a close friend/relative were also associated with differential methylation of CpGs in APTX, MyD88, and both UHRF1 and SDCCAG8, respectively; these genes are implicated in neurodegeneration, immune and cellular functions, regulation of global methylation levels, metabolism, and schizophrenia risk. Thus, differences in DNA methylation at these loci may provide novel insights into potential mechanisms of neurodevelopment in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kotsakis Ruehlmann
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sara Sammallahti
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry and Psychology, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrea P Cortés Hidalgo
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry and Psychology, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Megan Loraine Campbell
- University of Cape Town, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Doretta Caramaschi
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte A M Cecil
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry and Psychology, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cristiana Cruceanu
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Darina Czamara
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Linda Dieckmann
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - John Dou
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Josef Frank
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Siri E Håberg
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunda Herberth
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thanh T Hoang
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, 27709, NC, USA
| | - Lotte C Houtepen
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Anke Hüls
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nastassja Koen
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and UCT Neuroscience Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stephanie J London
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, 27709, NC, USA
| | - Maria C Magnus
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Centre for Fertility and Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Giulia Mancano
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa H Mulder
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christian M Page
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katri Räikkönen
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefan Röder
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- University of California-Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tabea S Send
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gemma Sharp
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and UCT Neuroscience Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Johanna Tuhkanen
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health & SA-MRC Unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ana C Zenclussen
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yining Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lea Zillich
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rosalind Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jari Lahti
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kelly J Brunst
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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8
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Cassidy AR, Neumann AA. [Formula: see text] Optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes following fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease: a call for primary prevention neuropsychology. Child Neuropsychol 2023; 29:1155-1177. [PMID: 36942716 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2190966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Critical congenital heart disease (CHD) presents a lasting threat to quality of life through its adverse impact on neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes. As recognition of this threat has increased, so too has an appreciation for the role of pediatric neuropsychologists in supporting families affected by CHD. But there is more to offer these families than traditional neuropsychological services, which tend to focus on secondary/tertiary forms of prevention. Now that many children with CHD are diagnosed prenatally, it may be possible to begin mitigating CHD-related risks and promoting positive outcomes earlier than ever before. Through primary prevention-oriented fetal neuropsychological consultation, as well as close collaboration with allied specialists, pediatric neuropsychology has an opportunity to re-envision its typical borders and more familiar practice models; to forge early and enduring partnerships with families; and to help promote the best possible neurodevelopmental trajectories, beginning before children are even born. In this conceptual review, we survey and integrate evidence from developmental science, developmental origins of health and disease, maternal-fetal medicine, and cardiac neurodevelopmental literatures, along with current practice norms, arriving ultimately at two central conclusions: 1) there is an important role to fill on multidisciplinary teams for the pediatric neuropsychologist in fetal cardiac care and 2) role expansion (e.g., through valuing broader-based training, flexing more generalist skills) can likely improve neuropsychological outcomes earlier than has been standard for pediatric neuropsychologists. Such a reimagining of our practice may be considered primary prevention neuropsychology. Implications for care in various settings and pragmatic barriers to implementation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam R Cassidy
- Departments of Psychiatry & Psychology and Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa A Neumann
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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9
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Fňašková M, Říha P, Nečasová M, Preiss M, Rektor I. Lifelong effects of prenatal and early postnatal stress on the hippocampus, amygdala, and psychological states of Holocaust survivors. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13835. [PMID: 37620426 PMCID: PMC10449780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40618-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study focuses on hippocampal and amygdala volume, seed-based connectivity, and psychological traits of Holocaust survivors who experienced stress during prenatal and early postnatal development. We investigated people who lived in Central Europe during the Holocaust and who, as Jews, were in imminent danger. The group who experienced stress during their prenatal development and early postnatal (PreP) period (n = 11) were compared with a group who experienced Holocaust-related stress later in their lives: in late childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood (ChA) (n = 21). The results of volumetry analysis showed significantly lower volumes of both hippocampi and the right amygdala in the PreP group. Seed-based connectivity analysis revealed increased connectivity from the seed in the right amygdala to the middle and posterior cingulate cortex, caudate, and inferior left frontal operculum in the PreP group. Psychological testing found higher levels of traumatic stress symptoms (TCS-40) and lower levels of well-being (SOS-10) in the PreP group than in the ChA group. The results of our study demonstrate that extreme stress experienced during prenatal and early postnatal life has a profound lifelong impact on the hippocampus and amygdala and on several psychological characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Fňašková
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brain and Mind Research Programme, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- First Department of Neurology, St Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Pavel Říha
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brain and Mind Research Programme, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- First Department of Neurology, St Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Markéta Nečasová
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brain and Mind Research Programme, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- First Department of Neurology, St Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marek Preiss
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brain and Mind Research Programme, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- National Institute of Mental Health (Czechia), Prague, Czechia
| | - Ivan Rektor
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brain and Mind Research Programme, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.
- First Department of Neurology, St Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.
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10
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Scarlett H, Moirangthem S, van der Waerden J. The impact of paternal mental illness on child development: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023:10.1007/s00787-023-02261-1. [PMID: 37540476 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Whilst there is growing evidence highlighting the importance of paternal mental illness (PMI) on child development, this relationship still remains under-studied and often over-looked. Considering the increasingly active role of fathers in their children's upbringing, a comprehensive overview of the impact of PMI on child development is overdue. This study aimed to combine and synthesise currently available evidence on the relationship between PMI and multiple domains of child development. Narrative synthesis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the relationship between PMI and child development (mental health and social, emotional, language, cognitive or adaptive behaviour), published between 1980 to December 2021, was conducted in line with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Review quality was assessed based on AMSTAR-2 criteria and respective study confidence was interpreted in line with GRADE scoring. All relevant meta-analytic effect sizes were converted to odds ratios (OR) and grouped using a random effects model. Grouped meta-analyses saw PMI to have a significant, detrimental effect on all studied domains of child development [OR: 1.54; 95% CI (1.36-1.74)]. Subgroup analyses saw PMI affecting both internalising [OR: 1.62; 95% CI (1.27-2.08)] and externalising [OR: 1.63; 95% CI (1.28-2.08)] child behaviours to a similar extent. However, included reviews were of poor methodological quality, demonstrating either low or critically low confidence. These results show a consistent and influential effect of PMI on child development. The relationship between fathers' mental illness and child development warrants further investigation, as current research is limited in scope, particularly regarding cognitive domains of child development and non-affective PMI diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honor Scarlett
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Simi Moirangthem
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Judith van der Waerden
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France
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11
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Marinho LSR, Chiarantin GMD, Ikebara JM, Cardoso DS, de Lima-Vasconcellos TH, Higa GSV, Ferraz MSA, De Pasquale R, Takada SH, Papes F, Muotri AR, Kihara AH. The impact of antidepressants on human neurodevelopment: Brain organoids as experimental tools. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 144:67-76. [PMID: 36115764 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The use of antidepressants during pregnancy benefits the mother's well-being, but the effects of such substances on neurodevelopment remain poorly understood. Moreover, the consequences of early exposure to antidepressants may not be immediately apparent at birth. In utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been related to developmental abnormalities, including a reduced white matter volume. Several reports have observed an increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after prenatal exposure to SSRIs such as sertraline, the most widely prescribed SSRI. The advent of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) methods and assays now offers appropriate tools to test the consequences of such compounds for neurodevelopment in vitro. In particular, hiPSCs can be used to generate cerebral organoids - self-organized structures that recapitulate the morphology and complex physiology of the developing human brain, overcoming the limitations found in 2D cell culture and experimental animal models for testing drug efficacy and side effects. For example, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and electrophysiological measurements on organoids can be used to evaluate the impact of antidepressants on the transcriptome and neuronal activity signatures in developing neurons. While the analysis of large-scale transcriptomic data depends on dimensionality reduction methods, electrophysiological recordings rely on temporal data series to discriminate statistical characteristics of neuronal activity, allowing for the rigorous analysis of the effects of antidepressants and other molecules that affect the developing nervous system, especially when applied in combination with relevant human cellular models such as brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juliane Midori Ikebara
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-045, Brazil
| | - Débora Sterzeck Cardoso
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-045, Brazil
| | | | - Guilherme Shigueto Vilar Higa
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-045, Brazil; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute I, São Paulo University, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | - Roberto De Pasquale
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute I, São Paulo University, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Silvia Honda Takada
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-045, Brazil
| | - Fabio Papes
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-862, Brazil; Center for Medicinal Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-875, Brazil; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, Archealization Center (ArchC), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-045, Brazil.
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12
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Sunderji A, Gallant HD, Hall A, Davis AD, Pokhvisneva I, Meaney MJ, Silveira PP, Sassi RB, Hall GB. Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene network moderates the impact of prenatal maternal adversity on orbitofrontal cortical thickness in middle childhood. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287289. [PMID: 37319261 PMCID: PMC10270637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero, the developing brain is highly susceptible to the environment. For example, adverse maternal experiences during the prenatal period are associated with outcomes such as altered neurodevelopment and emotion dysregulation. Yet, the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigate whether the function of a network of genes co-expressed with the serotonin transporter in the amygdala moderates the impact of prenatal maternal adversity on the structure of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in middle childhood and/or the degree of temperamental inhibition exhibited in toddlerhood. T1-weighted structural MRI scans were acquired from children aged 6-12 years. A cumulative maternal adversity score was used to conceptualize prenatal adversity and a co-expression based polygenic risk score (ePRS) was generated. Behavioural inhibition at 18 months was assessed using the Early Childhood Behaviour Questionnaire (ECBQ). Our results indicate that in the presence of a low functioning serotonin transporter gene network in the amygdala, higher levels of prenatal adversity are associated with greater right OFC thickness at 6-12 years old. The interaction also predicts temperamental inhibition at 18 months. Ultimately, we identified important biological processes and structural modifications that may underlie the link between early adversity and future deviations in cognitive, behavioural, and emotional development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleeza Sunderji
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Heather D. Gallant
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander Hall
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew D. Davis
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michael J. Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences and Brain–Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patricia P. Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Roberto B. Sassi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Geoffrey B. Hall
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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13
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Liu YW, Liu H, Huang K, Zhu BB, Yan SQ, Hao JH, Zhu P, Tao FB, Shao SS. The association between pregnancy-related anxiety and behavioral development in 18-month-old children: The mediating effects of parenting styles and breastfeeding methods. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:392-402. [PMID: 37086809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy-related anxiety (PRA) is a distinct type of anxiety from general anxiety, affects many pregnant women, and is correlated with poor behavioral development in children. However, the mediation paths were unclear. METHODS A total of 2032 mother-infant pairs from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort were included in the current study. Maternal PRA was assessed in the second and third trimesters. Children's behavioral development was evaluated at the age of 18 months. In addition, information on parenting styles and breastfeeding methods was obtained at postpartum. Multivariate regression and structural equation modeling were used to examine the associations between maternal PRA and children's behavioral development. RESULTS Significant intercorrelations were found between maternal PRA, the potential mediators (parenting styles and breastfeeding methods), and 18-month-old children's ASQ scores. Parenting styles played an intermediary role in the relationship between maternal PRA and children's behavioral development (β = 0.030, 95 % confidence interval: 0.017-0.051), and the mediating effect accounted for 29.1 % of the total effect. However, breastfeeding methods did not mediate the link between PRA and children's behavior. LIMITATIONS Depression and postpartum anxiety were not controlled for in our analysis, which left us unable to estimate the independent impact of PRA on children's behavior. CONCLUSIONS Parenting rather than breastfeeding is the mediating factor of behavioral problems in children caused by PRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Wei Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Bei-Bei Zhu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shuang-Qin Yan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Maternal and Child Health Care Center of Ma'anshan, No 24 Jiashan Road, Ma'anshan 243011, Anhui, China
| | - Jia-Hu Hao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fang-Biao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Shan-Shan Shao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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14
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Zimmerman E, Aguiar A, Aung MT, Geiger SD, Hines M, Woodbury ML, Martens A, Huerta-Montanez G, Cordero JF, Meeker JD, Schantz SL, Alshawabkeh AN. Examining the association between prenatal maternal stress and infant non-nutritive suck. Pediatr Res 2023; 93:1285-1293. [PMID: 34916626 PMCID: PMC9200902 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01894-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examined the relationship between prenatal maternal stress (PREMS) and non-nutritive suck (NNS) and tested its robustness across 2 demographically diverse populations. METHODS The study involved 2 prospective birth cohorts participating in the national Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program: Illinois Kids Development Study (IKIDS) and ECHO Puerto Rico (ECHO-PROTECT). PREMS was measured during late pregnancy via the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). NNS was sampled from 1- to 8-week-olds using a custom pacifier for ~5 min. RESULTS Overall, 237 mother-infant dyads completed this study. Despite several significant differences, including race/ethnicity, income, education, and PREMS levels, significant PREMS-NNS associations were found in the 2 cohorts. In adjusted linear regression models, higher PREMS, measured through PSS-10 total scores, related to fewer but longer NNS bursts per minute. CONCLUSIONS A significant association was observed between PREMS and NNS across two diverse cohorts. This finding is important as it may enable the earlier detection of exposure-related deficits and, as a result, earlier intervention, which potentially can optimize outcomes. More research is needed to understand how NNS affects children's neurofunction and development. IMPACT In this double-cohort study, we found that higher maternal perceived stress assessed in late pregnancy was significantly associated with fewer but longer sucking bursts in 1- to 8-week-old infants. This is the first study investigating the association between prenatal maternal stress (PREMS) and infant non-nutritive suck (NNS), an early indicator of central nervous system integrity. Non-nutritive suck is a potential marker of increased prenatal stress in diverse populations. Non-nutritive suck can potentially serve as an early indicator of exposure-related neuropsychological deficits allowing for earlier interventions and thus better prognoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Zimmerman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Andréa Aguiar
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Max T Aung
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Dee Geiger
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Morgan Hines
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan L Woodbury
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Alaina Martens
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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15
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Cummins A, Baird K, Melov SJ, Melhem L, Hilsabeck C, Hook M, Elhindi J, Pasupathy D. Does midwifery continuity of care make a difference to women with perinatal mental health conditions: A cohort study, from Australia. Women Birth 2023; 36:e270-e275. [PMID: 35941058 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions are associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes including preterm birth. Midwifery caseload group practice (continuity of care, MCP) improves perinatal outcomes including a 24 % reduction of preterm birth. The evidence is unclear whether MCP has the same effect for women with perinatal mental health conditions. AIM To compare perinatal outcomes in women with a mental health history between MCP and standard models of maternity care. The primary outcome measured the rates of preterm birth. METHODS A retrospective cohort study using routinely collected data of women with PMH conditions between 1st January 2018 - 31st January 2021 was conducted. We compared characteristics and outcomes between groups. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed adjusting for a-priori selected variables and factors that differ between models of care. RESULTS The cohort included 3028 women with PMH, 352 (11.6 %) received MCP. The most common diagnosis was anxiety and depression (n = 723, 23.9 %). Women receiving MCP were younger (mean 30.9 vs 31.3, p = 0.03), Caucasian (37.8 vs 27.1, p < 0.001), socio-economically advantaged (31.0 % vs 20.2, p < 0.001); less likely to smoke (5.1 vs 11.9, p < 0.001) and with lower BMI (mean 24.3 vs 26.5, p < 0.001) than those in the standard care group. Women in MCP had lower odds of preterm birth (adjOR 0.46, 95 % CI 0.24-0.86), higher odds of vaginal birth (adjOR 2.55, 95 % CI 1.93-3.36), breastfeeding at discharge (adj OR 3.06, 95 % CI 2.10-4.55) with no difference in severe adverse neonatal outcome (adj OR 0.79, 95 % CI 0.57-1.09). CONCLUSIONS This evidence supports MCP for women with PMH. Future RCTs on model of care for this group of women is needed to establish causation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Cummins
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Australia.
| | - Kathleen Baird
- Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, University of Technology Sydney, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Sarah J Melov
- Reproduction and Perinatal Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Women's and Newborn Health, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - Lena Melhem
- Women's and Newborn's Health, Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health Districts, Australia
| | - Carolyn Hilsabeck
- Women's and Newborn's Health, Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health Districts, Australia
| | - Monica Hook
- Women's and Newborn's Health, Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health Districts, Australia
| | - James Elhindi
- Reproduction and Perinatal Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Dharmintra Pasupathy
- Reproduction and Perinatal Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Women's and Newborn Health, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia
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16
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Zhang F, Zhou J, Zhang S, Qin X, Li P, Tao F, Huang K. Impact of pregnancy-related anxiety on preschoolers' emotional and behavioral development: Gender specificity, critical time windows and cumulative effect. J Affect Disord 2023; 323:176-184. [PMID: 36471547 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the gender-specific effect of PrA on children's emotional and behavioral development are limited. Lack of PrA data on the entire pregnancy had caused difficulties in identifying the key time window and cumulative effects. METHODS Based on Ma'anshan Birth Cohort in China, mothers at pregnancy and children followed up to 4 years of age were tested using the PrA questionnaire and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 1.5-5. Finally, 1699 mother-child pairs were included in the study and regression models were developed for analysis. RESULTS Children of mothers with PrA are at significantly elevated risk for abnormal mood/behavior at preschool age. Girls seemed to be more sensitive to maternal PrA than boys, mainly manifested in internalizing problems; The third trimester of pregnancy might be a critical time window when maternal PrA affected children's internalizing problems; Longer the duration women had PrA during pregnancy, more possibilities their children would have to develop internalizing and externalizing problems. LIMITATIONS The PrA questionnaire may be different from PrA questionnaires in other countries such as due to different cultural contexts. Findings need to be interpreted with more caution. Factors such as maternal postpartum depression and care practices of nursing staff were not considered. No data were collected on disease as well as caregiver emotional status, which also impacts the reporting and identification of emotional/behavioral problems in children. CONCLUSIONS Gender-specific and cumulative effect of PrA on preschoolers' emotional/behavioral development is observed. The third trimester of pregnancy might be the critical time window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jixing Zhou
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiaoyun Qin
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Peixuan Li
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China..
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17
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Riddle JN, Jager LR, Sherer M, Pangtey M, Osborne LM. Anxiety in pregnancy and stress responsiveness: An exploratory study of heart rate variability, cortisol, and alpha-amylase in the third trimester. J Neuroendocrinol 2023. [PMID: 36866835 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the association between anxiety symptoms, including sleep, and physiological stress responsiveness in pregnant women with and without anxiety, as identified by psychiatric diagnosis. Fifty-four pregnant women with (n = 25) and without (n = 29) anxiety completed a laboratory cognitive stressor (the Stroop Color-Word Task) during the third trimester. Heart rate variability (HRV) (as the root mean square of successive differences, RMSSD) was recorded during baseline, stressor, and recovery periods. Salivary cortisol (sCORT) and alpha amylase (sAA) were measured at four timepoints surrounding the stressor task. Psychometric scales (Penn State Worry Questionnaire [PSWQ], Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], Spielberg Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale [STAI], and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) were collected. Women in the anxiety group exhibited significantly less rebound in HRV (RMSSD, change of 4-ms difference, p = .025) from baseline to recovery following the Stroop than did those in the non-anxiety group. Neither neuroendocrine measure (sCORT, sAA) differed between groups at any measurement period. Across the recording period, lower reported sleep quality (PSQI, p = .0092) and higher subjective stress (PSS, p = .039) were associated with lower RMSSD. The findings suggest that women with and without anxiety in late pregnancy display differences in the degree of autonomic rebound as indicated by HRV following a stressor. In addition, levels of HRV over time were associated with subjective perceptions of increased stress and poor sleep. PREGNANCY AND ANXIOUS: The Role of the Immune and Endocrine Systems (NCT03664128).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia N Riddle
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Leah R Jager
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Morgan Sherer
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Meeta Pangtey
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lauren M Osborne
- Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Sebők-Welker T, Posta E, Ágrez K, Rádosi A, Zubovics EA, Réthelyi MJ, Ulbert I, Pászthy B, Bunford N. The Association Between Prenatal Maternal Stress and Adolescent Affective Outcomes is Mediated by Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Behavioral Inhibition System Sensitivity. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01499-9. [PMID: 36738426 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01499-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stress is linked to offspring outcomes; however, there is little research on adolescents, behavioral, transdiagnostic outcomes, or the mechanisms through which relations operate. We examined, in N = 268 adolescents (Mage = 15.31 years; SD = 1.063; 57.8% boys) whether prenatal maternal stress is associated with adolescent affective outcomes; whether this association is mediated, serially, by childhood home atmosphere and adolescent behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivity; and whether mediational effects are moderated by adolescent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or maternal internalizing symptomology. Prenatal maternal daily stress and major life events were associated with adolescent outcomes through childhood negative atmosphere/neglect and BIS sensitivity, with no evidence of moderation. Results have implications regarding the effect of prenatal maternal stress on offspring outcomes and regarding corresponding sensitive periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sebők-Welker
- Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Balassa U. 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - E Posta
- Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - K Ágrez
- Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - A Rádosi
- Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Balassa U. 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - E A Zubovics
- Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - M J Réthelyi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa U. 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - I Ulbert
- Integrative Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Práter Utca 50/A, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - B Pászthy
- 1st Department of Paediatrics, Semmelweis University, Bókay János U. 53-54, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - N Bunford
- Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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19
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Demirci GM, DeIngeniis D, Wong WM, Shereen AD, Nomura Y, Tsai CL. Superstorm Sandy exposure in utero is associated with neurobehavioral phenotypes and brain structure alterations in childhood: A machine learning approach. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1113927. [PMID: 36816117 PMCID: PMC9932505 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1113927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS), including exposure to natural disasters, has been shown to serve as a risk factor for future child psychopathology and suboptimal brain development, particularly among brain regions shown to be sensitive to stress and trauma exposure. However, statistical approaches deployed in most studies are usually constrained by a limited number of variables for the sake of statistical power. Explainable machine learning, on the other hand, enables the study of high data dimension and offers novel insights into the prominent subset of behavioral phenotypes and brain regions most susceptible to PNMS. In the present study, we aimed to identify the most important child neurobehavioral and brain features associated with in utero exposure to Superstorm Sandy (SS). Methods By leveraging an explainable machine learning technique, the Shapley additive explanations method, we tested the marginal feature effect on SS exposures and examined the individual variable effects on disaster exposure. Results Results show that certain brain regions are especially sensitive to in utero exposure to SS. Specifically, in utero SS exposure was associated with larger gray matter volume (GMV) in the right caudate, right hippocampus, and left amygdala and smaller GMV in the right parahippocampal gyrus. Additionally, higher aggression scores at age 5 distinctly correlated with SS exposure. Discussion These findings suggest in utero SS exposure may be associated with greater aggression and suboptimal developmental alterations among various limbic and basal ganglia brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gozde M. Demirci
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Donato DeIngeniis
- Queens College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Wai Man Wong
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Queens College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - A. Duke Shereen
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yoko Nomura
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Queens College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chia-Ling Tsai
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Queens College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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20
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Li X, Qureshi MNI, Laplante DP, Elgbeili G, Jones SL, King S, Rosa-Neto P. Neural correlates of disaster-related prenatal maternal stress in young adults from Project Ice Storm: Focus on amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1094039. [PMID: 36816508 PMCID: PMC9929467 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1094039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have shown that prenatal maternal stress alters volumes of the amygdala and hippocampus, and alters functional connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. However, it remains unclear whether prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) affects volumes and functional connectivity of these structures at their subdivision levels. Methods T1-weighted MRI and resting-state functional MRI were obtained from 19-year-old young adult offspring with (n = 39, 18 male) and without (n = 65, 30 male) exposure to PNMS deriving from the 1998 ice storm. Volumes of amygdala nuclei, hippocampal subfields and prefrontal subregions were computed, and seed-to-seed functional connectivity analyses were conducted. Results Compared to controls, young adult offspring exposed to disaster-related PNMS had larger volumes of bilateral whole amygdala, driven by the lateral, basal, central, medial, cortical, accessory basal nuclei, and corticoamygdaloid transition; larger volumes of bilateral whole hippocampus, driven by the CA1, HATA, molecular layer, fissure, tail, CA3, CA4, and DG; and larger volume of the prefrontal cortex, driven by the left superior frontal. Inversely, young adult offspring exposed to disaster-related PNMS had lower functional connectivity between the whole amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (driven by bilateral frontal poles, the left superior frontal and left caudal middle frontal); and lower functional connectivity between the hippocampal tail and the prefrontal cortex (driven by the left lateral orbitofrontal). Conclusion These results suggest the possibility that effects of disaster-related PNMS on structure and function of subdivisions of offspring amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex could persist into young adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Li
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Mental Health and Society Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada,Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada,Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Muhammad Naveed Iqbal Qureshi
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada,Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - David P. Laplante
- Centre for Child Development and Mental Health, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Elgbeili
- Mental Health and Society Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sherri Lee Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Suzanne King
- Mental Health and Society Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Suzanne King,
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada,Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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21
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Lazarides C, Moog NK, Verner G, Voelkle MC, Henrich W, Heim CM, Braun T, Wadhwa PD, Buss C, Entringer S. The association between history of prenatal loss and maternal psychological state in a subsequent pregnancy: an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study. Psychol Med 2023; 53:855-865. [PMID: 34127159 PMCID: PMC9975992 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721002221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal loss which occurs in approximately 20% of pregnancies represents a well-established risk factor for anxiety and affective disorders. In the current study, we examined whether a history of prenatal loss is associated with a subsequent pregnancy with maternal psychological state using ecological momentary assessment (EMA)-based measures of pregnancy-specific distress and mood in everyday life. METHOD This study was conducted in a cohort of N = 155 healthy pregnant women, of which N = 40 had a history of prenatal loss. An EMA protocol was used in early and late pregnancy to collect repeated measures of maternal stress and mood, on average eight times per day over a consecutive 4-day period. The association between a history of prenatal loss and psychological state was estimated using linear mixed models. RESULTS Compared to women who had not experienced a prior prenatal loss, women with a history of prenatal loss reported higher levels of pregnancy-specific distress in early as well as late pregnancy and also were more nervous and tired. Furthermore, in the comparison group pregnancy-specific distress decreased and mood improved from early to late pregnancy, whereas these changes across pregnancy were not evident in women in the prenatal loss group. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that prenatal loss in a prior pregnancy is associated with a subsequent pregnancy with significantly higher stress and impaired mood levels in everyday life across gestation. These findings have important implications for designing EMA-based ambulatory, personalized interventions to reduce stress during pregnancy in this high-risk group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Lazarides
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nora K. Moog
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Glenn Verner
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuel C. Voelkle
- Faculty of Life Science, Department of Psychology, Psychological Research Methods, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Henrich
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine M. Heim
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Braun
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pathik D. Wadhwa
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Buss
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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22
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Ivanova N, Atanasova M, Nenchovska Z, Tchekalarova J. Sex-Dependent Effect of Chronic Piromelatine Treatment on Prenatal Stress-Induced Memory Deficits in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24. [PMID: 36674787 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress impairs cognitive function in rats, while Piromelatine treatment corrects memory decline in male rats with chronic mild stress. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic treatment with the melatonin analogue Piromelatine on the associative and spatial hippocampus-dependent memory of male and female offspring with a history of prenatal stress (PNS). We report that male and female young adult offspring with PNS treated with a vehicle had reduced memory responses in an object recognition test (ORT). However, the cognitive performance in the radial arm maze test (RAM) was worsened only in the male offspring. The 32-day treatment with Piromelatine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) of male and female offspring with PNS attenuated the impaired responses in the ORT task. Furthermore, the melatonin analogue corrected the disturbed spatial memory in the male offspring. While the ratio of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (pCREB/CREB) was reduced in the two sexes with PNS and treated with a vehicle, the melatonin analogue elevated the ratio of these signaling molecules in the hippocampus of the male rats only. Our results suggest that Piromelatine exerts a beneficial effect on PNS-induced spatial memory impairment in a sex-dependent manner that might be mediated via the pCREB/CREB pathway.
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23
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Galley JD, Mashburn-Warren L, Blalock LC, Lauber CL, Carroll JE, Ross KM, Hobel C, Coussons-Read M, Dunkel Schetter C, Gur TL. Maternal anxiety, depression and stress affects offspring gut microbiome diversity and bifidobacterial abundances. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:253-264. [PMID: 36240906 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncovering mechanisms underlying fetal programming during pregnancy is of critical importance. Atypical neurodevelopment during the pre- and immediate postnatal period has been associated with long-term adverse health outcomes, including mood disorders and aberrant cognitive ability in offspring. Maternal factors that have been implicated in anomalous offspring development include maternal inflammation and tress, anxiety, and depression. One potential mechanism through which these factors perturb normal offspring postnatal development is through microbiome disruption. The mother is a primary source of early postnatal microbiome seeding for the offspring, and the transference of a healthy microbiome is key in normal neurodevelopment. Since psychological stress, mood disorders, and inflammation have all been implicated in altering maternal microbiome community structure, passing on aberrant microbial communities to the offspring that may then affect developmental outcomes. Therefore, we examined how maternal stress, anxiety and depression assessed with standardized instruments, and maternal inflammatory cytokine levels in the pre- and postnatal period are associated with the offspring microbiome within the first 13 months of life, utilizing full length 16S sequencing on infant stool samples, that allowed for species-level resolution. Results revealed that infants of mothers who reported higher anxiety and perceived stress had reduced alpha diversity. Additionally, the relative taxonomic quantitative abundances of Bifidobacterium dentium and other species that have been associated with either modulation of the gut-brain axis, or other beneficial health outcomes, were reduced in the offspring of mothers with higher anxiety, perceived stress, and depression. We also found associations between bifidobacteria and prenatal maternal pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. In summary, specific microbial taxa involved in maintaining proper brain and immune function are lower in offspring born to mothers with anxiety, depression, or stress, providing strong evidence for a mechanism by which maternal factors may affect offspring health through microbiota dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Galley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Lexie C Blalock
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christian L Lauber
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Judith E Carroll
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kharah M Ross
- Center for Social Sciences, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
| | - Calvin Hobel
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mary Coussons-Read
- Department of Psychology, The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | | | - Tamar L Gur
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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24
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Rajasilta O, Häkkinen S, Björnsdotter M, Scheinin NM, Lehtola SJ, Saunavaara J, Parkkola R, Lähdesmäki T, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Tuulari JJ. Maternal psychological distress associates with alterations in resting-state low-frequency fluctuations and distal functional connectivity of the neonate medial prefrontal cortex. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:242-257. [PMID: 36458867 PMCID: PMC10108202 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal stress exposure (PSE) has been observed to exert a programming effect on the developing infant brain, possibly with long-lasting consequences on temperament, cognitive functions and the risk for developing psychiatric disorders. Several prior studies have revealed that PSE associates with alterations in neonate functional connectivity in the prefrontal regions and amygdala. In this study, we explored whether maternal psychological symptoms measured during the 24th gestational week had associations with neonate resting-state network metrics. Twenty-one neonates (nine female) underwent resting-state fMRI scanning (mean gestation-corrected age at scan 26.95 days) to assess fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo). The ReHo/fALFF maps were used in multiple regression analysis to investigate whether maternal self-reported anxiety and/or depressive symptoms associate with neonate functional brain features. Maternal psychological distress (composite score of depressive and anxiety symptoms) was positively associated with fALFF in the neonate medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Anxiety and depressive symptoms, assessed separately, exhibited similar but weaker associations. Post hoc seed-based connectivity analyses further showed that distal connectivity of mPFC covaried with PSE. No associations were found between neonate ReHo and PSE. These results offer preliminary evidence that PSE may affect functional features of the developing brain during gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Rajasilta
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Suvi Häkkinen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Malin Björnsdotter
- The Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Noora M Scheinin
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Satu J Lehtola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jani Saunavaara
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuire Lähdesmäki
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford (Sigrid Juselius Fellowship), Oxford, UK
- Turku Collegium for Science and Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Nolvi S, Merz EC, Kataja EL, Parsons CE. Prenatal Stress and the Developing Brain: Postnatal Environments Promoting Resilience. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 93:942-952. [PMID: 36870895 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Heightened maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with atypical brain development and an elevated risk for psychopathology in offspring. Supportive environments during early postnatal life may promote brain development and reverse atypical developmental trajectories induced by prenatal stress. We reviewed studies focused on the role of key early environmental factors in moderating associations between prenatal stress exposure and infant brain and neurocognitive outcomes. Specifically, we focused on the associations between parental caregiving quality, environmental enrichment, social support, and socioeconomic status with infant brain and neurocognitive outcomes. We examined the evidence that these factors may moderate the effects of prenatal stress on the developing brain. Complementing findings from translational models, human research suggests that high-quality early postnatal environments are associated with indices of infant neurodevelopment that have also been associated with prenatal stress, such as hippocampal volume and frontolimbic connectivity. Human studies also suggest that maternal sensitivity and higher socioeconomic status may attenuate the effects of prenatal stress on established neurocognitive and neuroendocrine mediators of risk for psychopathology, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Biological pathways that may underlie the effects of positive early environments on the infant brain, including the epigenome, oxytocin, and inflammation, are also discussed. Future research in humans should examine resilience-promoting processes in relation to infant brain development using large sample sizes and longitudinal designs. The findings from this review could be incorporated into clinical models of risk and resilience during the perinatal period and used to design more effective early programs that reduce risk for psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saara Nolvi
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Medicine, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Emily C Merz
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- Department of Clinical Medicine, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Christine E Parsons
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Interacting Minds Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Jeličić L, Veselinović A, Ćirović M, Jakovljević V, Raičević S, Subotić M. Maternal Distress during Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Underlying Mechanisms and Child's Developmental Outcomes-A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213932. [PMID: 36430406 PMCID: PMC9692872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal mental health may be considered a determining factor influencing fetal and child development. An essential factor with potentially negative consequences for a child's psychophysiological development is the presence of maternal distress during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The review is organized and presented to explore and describe the effects of anxiety, stress, and depression in pregnancy and the postpartum period on adverse child developmental outcomes. The neurobiology of maternal distress and the transmission mechanisms at the molecular level to the fetus and child are noted. In addition, the paper discusses the findings of longitudinal studies in which early child development is monitored concerning the presence of maternal distress in pregnancy and the postpartum period. This topic gained importance in the COVID-19 pandemic context, during which a higher frequency of maternal psychological disorders was observed. The need for further interdisciplinary research on the relationship between maternal mental health and fetal/child development was highlighted, especially on the biological mechanisms underlying the transmission of maternal distress to the (unborn) child, to achieve positive developmental outcomes and improve maternal and child well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljiljana Jeličić
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Research and Development Institute “Life Activities Advancement Institute”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Experimental Phonetics and Speech Pathology, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +381-11-3208-519; Fax: +381-11-2624-168
| | - Aleksandra Veselinović
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Research and Development Institute “Life Activities Advancement Institute”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Experimental Phonetics and Speech Pathology, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Ćirović
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Research and Development Institute “Life Activities Advancement Institute”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Experimental Phonetics and Speech Pathology, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Jakovljević
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Department of Human Pathology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Saša Raičević
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Miško Subotić
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Research and Development Institute “Life Activities Advancement Institute”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Khoury JE, Ahtam B, Sisitsky M, Ou Y, Gagoski B, Enlow MB, Teicher MH, Grant PE, Lyons-Ruth K. Maternal Childhood Maltreatment Is Associated With Lower Infant Gray Matter Volume and Amygdala Volume During the First Two Years of Life. Biol Psychiatry Glob Open Sci 2022; 2:440-9. [PMID: 36324649 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Childhood maltreatment affects approximately 25% of the world's population. Importantly, the children of mothers who have been maltreated are at increased risk of behavioral problems. Thus, one important priority is to identify child neurobiological processes associated with maternal childhood maltreatment (MCM) that might contribute to such intergenerational transmission. This study assessed the impact of MCM on infant gray and white matter volumes and infant amygdala and hippocampal volumes during the first 2 years of life. Methods Fifty-seven mothers with 4-month-old infants were assessed for MCM, using both the brief Adverse Childhood Experiences screening questionnaire and the more detailed Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure scale. A total of 58% had experienced childhood maltreatment. Between 4 and 24 months (age in months: mean = 12.28, SD = 5.99), under natural sleep, infants completed a magnetic resonance imaging scan using a 3T Siemens scanner. Total brain volume, gray matter volume, white matter volume, and amygdala and hippocampal volumes were extracted via automated segmentation. Results MCM on the Adverse Childhood Experiences and Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure scales were associated with lower infant total brain volume and gray matter volume, with no moderation by infant age. However, infant age moderated the association between MCM and right amygdala volume, such that MCM was associated with lower volume at older ages. Conclusions MCM is associated with alterations in infant brain volumes, calling for further identification of the prenatal and postnatal mechanisms contributing to such intergenerational transmission. Furthermore, the brief Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire predicted these alterations, suggesting the potential utility of early screening for infant risk.
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Messina V, van’t Westeinde A, Padilla N, Lajic S. First Trimester Dexamethasone Treatment Is Not Associated With Alteration in Resting-state Connectivity at Adolescent or Adult Age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:2769-2776. [PMID: 35882216 PMCID: PMC9516042 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Prenatal treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) has been used to prevent virilization in females at risk of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Both affected and unaffected girls, as well boys, are treated until the genotype and sex of the fetus is known (gestational weeks 10-12). After that, only affected girls are treated until term. Exposure to a high synthetic glucocorticoid dosage may alter the developmental trajectory of the brain, with alterations in resting-state functional connectivity of the brain at adult age. OBJECTIVE To investigate resting-state functional connectivity in subjects at risk of having CAH, exposed to DEX treatment during the first trimester of fetal life, both in the whole brain and in 3 regions of interest (amygdala, hippocampus, and superior frontal gyrus). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Eighteen participants (8 females) at risk of having CAH, exposed to DEX treatment, and 38 controls (24 females), age range 16 to 26 years, from a single research institute, underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain during rest. We used 2 different approaches: an exploratory whole-brain analysis and seed-based analysis. For seed-based analysis, we chose 3 different brain regions (amygdala, hippocampus, and superior frontal gyrus) based on our previous findings and literature evidence. RESULTS We did not observe any differences in functional connectivity during rest, either in the whole brain nor in seed-based connectivity analyses at this adolescent and young adult age. CONCLUSIONS Our results are reassuring; however, future studies on larger samples and with more sensitive methodologies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Messina
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit (QB83), Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annelies van’t Westeinde
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit (QB83), Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nelly Padilla
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska vägen 8 (S3:03), Karolinska University Hospital, SE- 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Svetlana Lajic
- Correspondence: Svetlana Lajic, MD, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit (QB83), Karolinska vägen 37A, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Mbiydzenyuy NE, Hemmings SMJ, Qulu L. Prenatal maternal stress and offspring aggressive behavior: Intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:977416. [PMID: 36212196 PMCID: PMC9539686 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.977416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though studies have shown that prenatal maternal stress is associated with increased reactivity of the HPA axis, the association between prenatal maternal stress and fetal glucocorticoid exposure is complex and most likely dependent on unidentified and poorly understood variables including nature and timing of prenatal insults. The precise mechanisms in which prenatal maternal stress influence neuroendocrine signaling between the maternal-placental-fetal interface are still unclear. The aim of this review article is to bring comprehensive basic concepts about prenatal maternal stress and mechanisms of transmission of maternal stress to the fetus. This review covers recent studies showing associations between maternal stress and alterations in offspring aggressive behavior, as well as the possible pathways for the “transmission” of maternal stress to the fetus: (1) maternal-fetal HPA axis dysregulation; (2) intrauterine environment disruption due to variations in uterine artery flow; (3) epigenetic modifications of genes implicated in aggressive behavior. Here, we present evidence for the phenomenon of intergenerational and transgenerational transmission, to better understands the mechanism(s) of transmission from parent to offspring. We discuss studies showing associations between maternal stress and alterations in offspring taking note of neuroendocrine, brain architecture and epigenetic changes that may suggest risk for aggressive behavior. We highlight animal and human studies that focus on intergenerational transmission following exposure to stress from a biological mechanistic point of view, and maternal stress-induced epigenetic modifications that have potential to impact on aggressive behavior in later generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy
- Department of Basic Science, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy,
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lihle Qulu
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Tyborowska A, Gruber K, Beijers R, Kühn S, Roelofs K, de Weerth C. No evidence for association between late pregnancy maternal cortisol and gray matter volume in a healthy community sample of young adolescents. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:893847. [PMID: 36117621 PMCID: PMC9470950 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.893847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A compelling amount of animal and human research has shown that perceived maternal stress during pregnancy can affect the neurodevelopment of the offspring. Prenatal maternal cortisol is frequently proposed as the biological key mechanism underlying this link; however, literature that investigates the effects of prenatal cortisol on subsequent neurodevelopment in humans is scarce. By using longitudinal data from a relatively large community sample of mother-child dyads (N = 73), this pre-registered study prospectively examined the role of maternal prenatal cortisol concentrations on subsequent individual differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and hippocampal subfield volumes at the onset of puberty of the offspring (12 years of age). Two markers of cortisol, that is, evening cortisol and circadian decline over the day, were used as indicators of maternal physiological stress during the last trimester of pregnancy. The results indicate that prenatal maternal cortisol levels were not associated with GMV or hippocampal subfield volumes of the children. These findings suggest that late pregnancy maternal cortisol may not be related to the structural development of the offspring's brain, at least not in healthy community samples and at the onset of puberty. When examining the influence of prenatal stress on offspring neurodevelopment, future investigations should delineate gestational timing effects of the cortisol exposure, cortisol assessment method, and impact of additional biomarkers, as these were not investigated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tyborowska
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Katharina Gruber
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Simone Kühn
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Aydin E, Weiss SM, Glasgow KA, Barlow J, Austin T, Johnson MH, Lloyd-Fox S. COVID-19 in the context of pregnancy, infancy and parenting (CoCoPIP) study: protocol for a longitudinal study of parental mental health, social interactions, physical growth and cognitive development of infants during the pandemic. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e053800. [PMID: 35667736 PMCID: PMC9170803 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While the secondary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of pregnant women and parents has become apparent over the past year, the impact of these changes on early social interactions, physical growth and cognitive development of their infants is unknown, as is the way in which a range of COVID-19-related changes have mediated this impact. This study (CoCoPIP) will investigate: (1) how parent's experiences of the social, medical and financial changes during the pandemic have impacted prenatal and postnatal parental mental health and parent-infant social interaction; and (2) the extent to which these COVID-19-related changes in parental prenatal and postnatal mental health and social interaction are associated with fetal and infant development. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The CoCoPIP study is a national online survey initiated in July 2020. This ongoing study (n=1700 families currently enrolled as of 6 May 2021) involves both quantitative and qualitative data being collected across pregnancy and infancy. It is designed to identify the longitudinal impact of the pandemic from pregnancy to 2 years of age as assessed using a range of parent- and self-report measures, with the aim of identifying if stress-associated moderators (ie, loss of income, COVID-19 illness, access to ante/postnatal support) appear to impact parental mental health, and in turn, infant development. In addition, we aim to document individual differences in social and cognitive development in toddlers who were born during restrictions intended to mitigate COVID-19 spread (eg, social distancing, national lockdowns). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was given by the University of Cambridge, Psychology Research Ethics Committee (PRE.2020.077). Findings will be made available via community engagement, public forums (eg, social media,) and to national (eg, NHS England) and local (Cambridge Universities Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) healthcare partners. Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviews journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra Aydin
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Staci M Weiss
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin A Glasgow
- Department of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jane Barlow
- Department of Social Policy, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Topun Austin
- Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Lloyd-Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Wegrzyn D, Juckel G, Faissner A. Structural and Functional Deviations of the Hippocampus in Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5482. [PMID: 35628292 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a grave neuropsychiatric disease which frequently onsets between the end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood. It is characterized by a variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities which are categorized into positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Most therapeutical strategies address the positive symptoms by antagonizing D2-dopamine-receptors (DR). However, negative and cognitive symptoms persist and highly impair the life quality of patients due to their disabling effects. Interestingly, hippocampal deviations are a hallmark of schizophrenia and can be observed in early as well as advanced phases of the disease progression. These alterations are commonly accompanied by a rise in neuronal activity. Therefore, hippocampal formation plays an important role in the manifestation of schizophrenia. Furthermore, studies with animal models revealed a link between environmental risk factors and morphological as well as electrophysiological abnormalities in the hippocampus. Here, we review recent findings on structural and functional hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenic patients and in schizophrenia animal models, and we give an overview on current experimental approaches that especially target the hippocampus. A better understanding of hippocampal aberrations in schizophrenia might clarify their impact on the manifestation and on the outcome of this severe disease.
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Amici F, Röder S, Kiess W, Borte M, Zenclussen AC, Widdig A, Herberth G. Maternal stress, child behavior and the promotive role of older siblings. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:863. [PMID: 35488325 PMCID: PMC9055772 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13261-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the first years of their lives, children develop the cognitive, social and emotional skills that will provide the foundations for their lifelong health and achievements. To increase their life prospects and reduce the long-term effects of early aversive conditions, it is therefore crucial to understand the risk factors that negatively affect child development and the factors that are instead beneficial. In this study, we tested (i) the effects of different social and environmental stressors on maternal stress levels, (ii) the dynamic relationship between maternal stress and child behavior problems during development, and (iii) the potential promotive (i.e. main) or protective (i.e. buffering) effect of siblings on child behavior problems during development. Methods We used longitudinal data from 373 mother–child pairs (188 daughters, 185 sons) from pregnancy until 10 years of age. We assessed maternal stress and child behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing) with validated questionnaires, and then used linear mixed models, generalized linear mixed models and longitudinal cross-lagged models to analyze the data. Results Our results showed that higher maternal stress levels were predicted by socio-environmental stressors (i.e. the lack of sufficient social areas in the neighborhood). Moreover, prenatal maternal stress reliably predicted the occurrence of behavior problems during childhood. Finally, the presence of older siblings had a promotive function, by reducing the likelihood that children developed externalizing problems. Conclusions Overall, our results confirm the negative effects that maternal stress during pregnancy may have on the offspring, and suggest an important main effect of older siblings in promoting a positive child development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13261-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Amici
- Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. .,Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Stefan Röder
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- Department of Women and Child Health, Center of Paediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.,Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases (LIFE), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Borte
- Children's Hospital, Municipal Hospital "St. Georg", Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Leipzig, 04129, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ana C Zenclussen
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anja Widdig
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Human Behaviour, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gunda Herberth
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
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Wu Y, Espinosa KM, Barnett SD, Kapse A, Quistorff JL, Lopez C, Andescavage N, Pradhan S, Lu YC, Kapse K, Henderson D, Vezina G, Wessel D, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. Association of Elevated Maternal Psychological Distress, Altered Fetal Brain, and Offspring Cognitive and Social-Emotional Outcomes at 18 Months. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e229244. [PMID: 35486403 PMCID: PMC9055453 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.9244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Prenatal maternal psychological distress is associated with disturbances in fetal brain development. However, the association between altered fetal brain development, prenatal maternal psychological distress, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the association of fetal brain development using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumes, cortical folding, and metabolites in the setting of maternal psychological distress with infant 18-month neurodevelopment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Healthy mother-infant dyads were prospectively recruited into a longitudinal observational cohort study from January 2016 to October 2020 at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. Data analysis was performed from January 2016 to July 2021. EXPOSURES Prenatal maternal stress, anxiety, and depression. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prenatal maternal stress, anxiety, and depression were measured using validated self-report questionnaires. Fetal brain volumes and cortical folding were measured from 3-dimensional, reconstructed T2-weighted MRI scans. Fetal brain creatine and choline were quantified using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Infant neurodevelopment at 18 months was measured using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III and Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. The parenting stress in the parent-child dyad was measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form at 18-month testing. RESULTS The cohort consisted of 97 mother-infant dyads (mean [SD] maternal age, 34.79 [5.64] years) who underwent 184 fetal MRI visits (87 participants with 2 fetal studies each) with maternal psychological distress measures between 24 and 40 gestational weeks and completed follow-up infant neurodevelopmental testing. Prenatal maternal stress was negatively associated with infant cognitive performance (β = -0.51; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.09; P = .01), and this association was mediated by fetal left hippocampal volume. In addition, prenatal maternal anxiety, stress, and depression were positively associated with all parenting stress measures at 18-month testing. Finally, fetal cortical local gyrification index and sulcal depth were negatively associated with infant social-emotional performance (local gyrification index: β = -54.62; 95% CI, -85.05 to -24.19; P < .001; sulcal depth: β = -14.22; 95% CI, -23.59 to -4.85; P = .002) and competence scores (local gyrification index: β = -24.01; 95% CI, -40.34 to -7.69; P = .003; sulcal depth: β = -7.53; 95% CI, -11.73 to -3.32; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study of 97 mother-infant dyads, fetal cortical local gyrification index and sulcal depth were associated with infant 18-month social-emotional and competence outcomes, and fetal left hippocampal volume mediated the association between prenatal maternal stress and infant cognitive outcome. These findings suggest that altered prenatal brain development in the setting of elevated maternal distress has adverse infant sociocognitive outcomes, and identifying early biomarkers associated with long-term neurodevelopment may assist in early targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Scott D. Barnett
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Anushree Kapse
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Catherine Lopez
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Subechhya Pradhan
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Yuan-Chiao Lu
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Kushal Kapse
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Diedtra Henderson
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Gilbert Vezina
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - David Wessel
- Hospital and Specialty Services, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Adré J. du Plessis
- Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
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Morris JR, Jaswa E, Kaing A, Hariton E, Andrusier M, Aliaga K, Davis M, Cedars MI, Huddleston HG. Early pregnancy anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: preliminary findings from the UCSF ASPIRE study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:272. [PMID: 35361137 PMCID: PMC8969813 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antenatal anxiety has been linked to adverse obstetric outcomes, including miscarriage and preterm birth. However, most studies investigating anxiety during pregnancy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, have focused on symptoms during the second and third trimester. This study aims to describe the prevalence of anxiety symptoms early in pregnancy and identify predictors of early pregnancy anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We assessed baseline moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms after enrollment in the UCSF ASPIRE (Assessing the Safety of Pregnancy in the Coronavirus Pandemic) Prospective Cohort from May 2020 through February 2021. Pregnant persons < 10 weeks’ gestation completed questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric/medical history, and pandemic-related experiences. Univariate and multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analyses determined predictors of moderate or severe anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire score ≥ 10). All analyses performed with Statistical Analysis Software (SAS®) version 9.4. Results A total of 4,303 persons completed the questionnaire. The mean age of this nationwide sample was 33 years of age and 25.7% of participants received care through a fertility clinic. Over twelve percent of pregnant persons reported moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms. In univariate analysis, less than a college education (p < 0.0001), a pre-existing history of anxiety (p < 0.0001), and a history of prior miscarriage (p = 0.0143) were strong predictors of moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms. Conversely, having received care at a fertility center was protective (26.6% vs. 25.7%, p = 0.0009). COVID-19 related stressors including job loss, reduced work hours during the pandemic, inability to pay rent, very or extreme worry about COVID-19, and perceived stress were strongly predictive of anxiety in pregnancy (p < 0.0001). In the hierarchical logistic regression model, pre-existing history of anxiety remained associated with anxiety during pregnancy, while the significance of the effect of education was attenuated. Conclusion(s) Pre-existing history of anxiety and socioeconomic factors likely exacerbated the impact of pandemic-related stressors on early pregnancy anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite on-going limitations for in-person prenatal care administration, continued emotional health support should remain an important focus for providers, particularly when caring for less privileged pregnant persons or those with a pre-existing history of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrine R Morris
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California- San Francisco, 499 Illinois Street Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Eleni Jaswa
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California- San Francisco, 499 Illinois Street Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Amy Kaing
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California- San Francisco, 499 Illinois Street Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Eduardo Hariton
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California- San Francisco, 499 Illinois Street Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Miriam Andrusier
- College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 11203
| | - Katie Aliaga
- Saint James School of Medicine, Park Ridge, Illinois, USA, 60068
| | - Maya Davis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA, 02284
| | - Marcelle I Cedars
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California- San Francisco, 499 Illinois Street Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Heather G Huddleston
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California- San Francisco, 499 Illinois Street Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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Rasmussen JM, Thompson PM, Entringer S, Buss C, Wadhwa PD. Fetal programming of human energy homeostasis brain networks: Issues and considerations. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13392. [PMID: 34845821 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we present a transdisciplinary framework and testable hypotheses regarding the process of fetal programming of energy homeostasis brain circuitry. Our model proposes that key aspects of energy homeostasis brain circuitry already are functional by the time of birth (with substantial interindividual variation); that this phenotypic variation at birth is an important determinant of subsequent susceptibility for energy imbalance and childhood obesity risk; and that this brain circuitry exhibits developmental plasticity, in that it is influenced by conditions during intrauterine life, particularly maternal-placental-fetal endocrine, immune/inflammatory, and metabolic processes and their upstream determinants. We review evidence that supports the scientific premise for each element of this formulation, identify future research directions, particularly recent advances that may facilitate a better quantification of the ontogeny of energy homeostasis brain networks, highlight animal and in vitro-based approaches that may better address the determinants of interindividual variation in energy homeostasis brain networks, and discuss the implications of this formulation for the development of strategies targeted towards the primary prevention of childhood obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerod M Rasmussen
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Medical Psychology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Claudia Buss
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Medical Psychology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Pathik D Wadhwa
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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37
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Kemp JVA, Bernier E, Lebel C, Kopala-Sibley DC. Associations Between Parental Mood and Anxiety Psychopathology and Offspring Brain Structure: A Scoping Review. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2022; 25:222-247. [PMID: 35201543 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-022-00393-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A family history of mood and anxiety disorders is one of the most well-established risk factors for these disorders in offspring. A family history of these disorders has also been linked to alterations in brain regions involved in cognitive-affective processes broadly, and mood and anxiety disorders specifically. Results from studies of brain structure of children of parents with a history of mood or anxiety disorders (high-risk offspring) have been inconsistent. We followed the PRISMA protocol to conduct a scoping review of the literature linking parental mood and anxiety disorders to offspring brain structure to examine which structures in offspring brains are linked to parental major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, or bipolar disorder (BD). Studies included were published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and July 2021. Thirty-nine studies were included. Significant associations between parental BD and offspring caudate volume, inferior frontal gyrus thickness, and anterior cingulate cortex thickness were found. Associations were also identified between parental MDD and offspring amygdala and hippocampal volumes, fusiform thickness, and thickness in temporoparietal regions. Few studies have examined associations between parental anxiety and high-risk offspring brain structure; however, one study found associations between parental anxiety symptoms and offspring amygdala structure, and another found similar associations with the hippocampus. The direction of grey matter change across studies was inconsistent, potentially due to the large age ranges for each study and the non-linear development of the brain. Children of parents with MDD and bipolar disorders, or elevated anxiety symptoms, show alterations in a range of brain regions. Results may further efforts to identify children at high risk for affective disorders and may elucidate whether alterations in specific brain regions represent premorbid markers of risk for mood and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer V A Kemp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Faculty of Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital Teaching Research and Wellness Building, 3280 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
| | - Emily Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Daniel C Kopala-Sibley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Calgary, AB, Canada
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38
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Pollok TM, Kaiser A, Kraaijenvanger EJ, Monninger M, Brandeis D, Banaschewski T, Eickhoff SB, Holz NE. Neurostructural Traces of Early Life Adversities: A Meta-Analysis Exploring Age- and Adversity-specific Effects. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104589. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Abd Aziz CB, Ahmad AH, Hasim H. Pain response following prenatal stress and its modulation by antioxidants. Treatments, Mechanisms, and Adverse Reactions of Anesthetics and Analgesics 2022:487-497. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820237-1.00041-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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Abstract
Glucocorticoids, vertebrate steroid hormones produced by cells of the adrenal cortex or interrenal tissue, function dynamically to maintain homeostasis under constantly changing and occasionally stressful environmental conditions. They do so by binding and thereby activating nuclear receptor transcription factors, the Glucocorticoid and Mineralocorticoid Receptors (MR and GR, respectively). The GR, by virtue of its lower affinity for endogenous glucocorticoids (cortisol or corticosterone), is primarily responsible for transducing the dynamic signals conveyed by circadian and ultradian glucocorticoid oscillations as well as transient pulses produced in response to acute stress. These dynamics are important determinants of stress responsivity, and at the systemic level are produced by feedforward and feedback signaling along the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal axis. Within receiving cells, GR signaling dynamics are controlled by the GR target gene and negative feedback regulator fkpb5. Chronic stress can alter signaling dynamics via imperfect physiological adaptation that changes systemic and/or cellular set points, resulting in chronically elevated cortisol levels and increased allostatic load, which undermines health and promotes development of disease. When this occurs during early development it can "program" the responsivity of the stress system, with persistent effects on allostatic load and disease susceptibility. An important question concerns the glucocorticoid-responsive gene regulatory network that contributes to such programming. Recent studies show that klf9, a ubiquitously expressed GR target gene that encodes a Krüppel-like transcription factor important for metabolic plasticity and neuronal differentiation, is a feedforward regulator of GR signaling impacting cellular glucocorticoid responsivity, suggesting that it may be a critical node in that regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M. Gans
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
| | - James A. Coffman
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
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41
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Tu HF, Skalkidou A, Lindskog M, Gredebäck G. Maternal childhood trauma and perinatal distress are related to infants' focused attention from 6 to 18 months. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24190. [PMID: 34921204 PMCID: PMC8683435 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03568-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal distress is repeatedly reported to have negative impacts on the cognitive development in children and is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder). However, studies examining the associations between maternal distress and the development of attention in infancy are few. This study investigated the longitudinal relationships between maternal distress (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and exposure to childhood trauma) and the development of focused attention in infancy in 118 mother-infant dyads. We found that maternal exposure to non-interpersonal traumatic events in childhood was associated with the less focused attention of the infants to audio-visual stimuli at 6, 10, and 18 months. In addition, exposure to interpersonal traumatic events in childhood was identified as a moderator of the negative effect of maternal anxiety during the 2nd trimester on the development of focused attention in infants. We discuss the possible mechanisms accounting for these cross-generational effects. Our findings underscore the importance of maternal mental health to the development of focused attention in infancy and address the need for early screening of maternal mental health during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsing-Fen Tu
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Alkistis Skalkidou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcus Lindskog
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Gredebäck
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
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de Mendonça Filho EJ, Barth B, Bandeira DR, de Lima RMS, Arcego DM, Dalmaz C, Pokhvisneva I, Sassi RB, Hall GBC, Meaney MJ, Silveira PP. Cognitive Development and Brain Gray Matter Susceptibility to Prenatal Adversities: Moderation by the Prefrontal Cortex Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Co-expression Network. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:744743. [PMID: 34899157 PMCID: PMC8652300 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.744743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies focused on the relationship between prenatal conditions and neurodevelopmental outcomes later in life, but few have explored the interplay between gene co-expression networks and prenatal adversity conditions on cognitive development trajectories and gray matter density. Methods: We analyzed the moderation effects of an expression polygenic score (ePRS) for the Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor gene network (BDNF ePRS) on the association between prenatal adversity and child cognitive development. A score based on genes co-expressed with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) BDNF was created, using the effect size of the association between the individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and the BDNF expression in the PFC. Cognitive development trajectories of 157 young children from the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) cohort were assessed longitudinally in 4-time points (6, 12, 18, and 36 months) using the Bayley-II mental scales. Results: Linear mixed-effects modeling indicated that BDNF ePRS moderates the effects of prenatal adversity on cognitive growth. In children with high BDNF ePRS, higher prenatal adversity was associated with slower cognitive development in comparison with those exposed to lower prenatal adversity. Parallel-Independent Component Analysis (pICA) suggested that associations of expression-based SNPs and gray matter density significantly differed between low and high prenatal adversity groups. The brain IC included areas involved in visual association processes (Brodmann area 19 and 18), reallocation of attention, and integration of information across the supramodal cortex (Brodmann area 10). Conclusion: Cognitive development trajectories and brain gray matter seem to be influenced by the interplay of prenatal environmental conditions and the expression of an important BDNF gene network that guides the growth and plasticity of neurons and synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euclides José de Mendonça Filho
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Barbara Barth
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Denise Ruschel Bandeira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Randriely Merscher Sobreira de Lima
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica e Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Danusa Mar Arcego
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Carla Dalmaz
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica e Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Geoffrey B. C. Hall
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J. Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patricia Pelufo Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Mills-Koonce WR, Willoughby MT, Short SJ, Propper CB. The Brain and Early Experience Study: Protocol for a Prospective Observational Study (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 11:e34854. [PMID: 35767351 PMCID: PMC9280455 DOI: 10.2196/34854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah J Short
- School of Education, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Cathi B Propper
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Abstract
The current study investigated 304 children from a longitudinal project (the Stress in Pregnancy (SIP) Study) who were exposed and unexposed to Superstorm Sandy ("Sandy") in utero. They were prospectively followed from 2 to 6 years of age and their clinical and adaptive behaviors were assessed annually. Using a hierarchical linear model, the study found that in utero Sandy exposure was associated with greater clinical (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and lower adaptive behaviors (social skills and functional communication) at age 2 years. However, the trajectories were notably different between the two groups. Anxiety increased more rapidly among the exposed than unexposed group at ages 2-4, and depression increased only among the exposed. In contrast, social skills and functional communication were lower in exposed compared to unexposed children at age 2, but quickly increased and exceeded the capacities of unexposed children by age 3. The findings confirm that prenatal Sandy exposure is not only associated with an increase in anxiety, depression, and somatization in offspring, but also with greater adaptive skills as the children got older. Our study demonstrates that while children who have experienced stress in utero demonstrate elevated suboptimal clinical behaviors related to affective disorders, they nevertheless have the potential to learn adaptive skills.
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Bauer I, Hartkopf J, Wikström AK, Schaal NK, Preissl H, Derntl B, Schleger F. Acute relaxation during pregnancy leads to a reduction in maternal electrodermal activity and self-reported stress levels. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:628. [PMID: 34535120 PMCID: PMC8447712 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal stress can have adverse effects on birth outcomes and fetal development. Relaxation techniques have been examined as potential countermeasures. This study investigates different relaxation techniques and their effect on self-reported stress levels and physiological stress levels in pregnant women. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 38 pregnant women in their 30th to 40th gestational week were assigned to one of three, 20-min lasting relaxation groups: listening to music (N = 12), following a guided imagery (N = 12) or resting (N = 12). The intervention, i.e., acute relaxation (music, guided imagery or resting) took place once for each study participant. Study inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, German speaking, singleton and uncomplicated pregnancy during the 30th and 40th week of gestation. The stress levels were determined during the study. Current stress level during the study was assessed by a visual analogue scale. Chronic stress levels were assessed by the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress and the Pregnancy Distress questionnaire. Multivariate analyses of covariance were performed and dependent measures included stress levels as well as physiological measures, i.e., cardiovascular activity (electrocardiogram) and skin conductance levels. RESULTS All three forms of relaxation led to reduced maternal stress which manifested itself in significantly decreased skin conductance, F(3,94) = 18.011, p = .001, ηp2 = .365, and subjective stress levels after the interventions with no significant group difference. Post-intervention stress ratings were further affected by gestational age, with less subjective relaxation in women later in gestation, F (1, 34)=4.971, p = .032, ηp2 = .128. CONCLUSION Independent of relaxation technique, single, 20-min relaxation intervention (music, guided imagery or resting) can significantly reduce maternal stress. Notably, women at an earlier stage in their pregnancy reported higher relaxation after the intervention than women later in gestation. Hence, gestational age may influence perceived stress levels and should be considered when evaluating relaxation or stress management interventions during pregnancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilena Bauer
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Julia Hartkopf
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Anna-Karin Wikström
- Department of Women's and Children's health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nora K Schaal
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Hubert Preissl
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Nephrology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Franziska Schleger
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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46
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Casey S, Carter M, Looney AM, Livingstone V, Moloney G, O'Keeffe GW, Taylor RS, Kenny LC, McCarthy FP, McCowan LME, Thompson JMD, Murray DM; SCOPE Consortium. Maternal Mid-Gestation Cytokine Dysregulation in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2021. [PMID: 34505185 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05271-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterised by deficits in social interactions and communication, with stereotypical and repetitive behaviours. Recent evidence suggests that maternal immune dysregulation may predispose offspring to ASD. Independent samples t-tests revealed downregulation of IL-17A concentrations in cases, when compared to controls, at both 15 weeks (p = 0.02), and 20 weeks (p = 0.02), which persisted at 20 weeks following adjustment for confounding variables. This adds to the growing body of evidence that maternal immune regulation may play a role in foetal neurodevelopment.
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Thomason ME, Hect JL, Waller R, Curtin P. Interactive relations between maternal prenatal stress, fetal brain connectivity, and gestational age at delivery. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1839-1847. [PMID: 34188185 PMCID: PMC8357800 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01066-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Studies reporting significant associations between maternal prenatal stress and child outcomes are frequently confounded by correlates of prenatal stress that influence the postnatal rearing environment. The major objective of this study is to identify whether maternal prenatal stress is associated with variation in human brain functional connectivity prior to birth. We utilized fetal fMRI in 118 fetuses [48 female; mean age 32.9 weeks (SD = 3.87)] to evaluate this association and further addressed whether fetal neural differences were related to maternal health behaviors, social support, or birth outcomes. Community detection was used to empirically define networks and enrichment was used to isolate differential within- or between-network connectivity effects. Significance for χ2 enrichment was determined by randomly permuting the subject pairing of fetal brain connectivity and maternal stress values 10,000 times. Mixtures modelling was used to test whether fetal neural differences were related to maternal health behaviors, social support, or birth outcomes. Increased maternal prenatal negative affect/stress was associated with alterations in fetal frontoparietal, striatal, and temporoparietal connectivity (β = 0.82, p < 0.001). Follow-up analysis demonstrated that these associations were stronger in women with better health behaviors, more positive interpersonal support, and lower overall stress (β = 0.16, p = 0.02). Additionally, magnitude of stress-related differences in neural connectivity was marginally correlated with younger gestational age at delivery (β = -0.18, p = 0.05). This is the first evidence that negative affect/stress during pregnancy is reflected in functional network differences in the human brain in utero, and also provides information about how positive interpersonal and health behaviors could mitigate prenatal brain programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriah E Thomason
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Population Health, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jasmine L Hect
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh & Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca Waller
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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48
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Smith-Nielsen J, Egmose I, Wendelboe KI, Steinmejer P, Lange T, Vaever MS. Can the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-3A be used to screen for anxiety? BMC Psychol 2021; 9:118. [PMID: 34364392 PMCID: PMC8349495 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-021-00623-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anxiety in the ante- and postnatal period is prevalent, often co-occurs with depression, and can have adverse consequences for the infant. Therefore, perinatal mental health screening programs should not only focus on depression but also on detecting anxiety. However, in many already implemented perinatal screening programs, adding extra screening instruments is not feasible. We examine the utility of a subscale of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) consisting of items 3, 4, and 5 (EPDS-3A) for detecting anxiety in new mothers. Methods We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the presence of the EPDS-3A found in a previous study (n = 320) where exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used. For the CFA we used a sample of new mothers (n = 442) with children aged 2–11 months recruited from the same population from which mothers for the previous study was recruited. Three models were tested and compared. Receiver operating characteristics of the EPDS-3A were investigated in relation to anxiety caseness status on the combined sample (N = 762). Sample weighing was used to match the dataset to the target population. Cross tabulation was used to investigate the proportion of anxiety cases identified by the EPDS-3A above those identified with the total EPDS. Results The presence of the EPDS-3A was confirmed. An EFA-driven, two-dimensional 7-item model showed the best data fit with one factor representing the anxiety subscale consisting of items 3, 4, and 5. An EPDS-3A score of ≥ 5 was the most optimal for identifying cases of anxiety (sensitivity: 70.9; specificity: 92.2; AUC: 0.926). Further, we found that the EPDS-3A identifies an additional 2.5% of anxiety cases that would not have been identified with the total EPDS. Conclusions The EPDS-3A can be used as a time-efficient screening for possible anxiety in ante- and postnatal mothers. However, adding the EPDS-3A to routine screening with the total EPDS does not lead to a substantial increase in the number of women identified. In line with previous studies, this study confirms that the EPDS identifies anxiety in addition to depression. Therefore, assessment and treatment adjusted to the specific emotional difficulties is imperative. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-021-00623-5.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ida Egmose
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Theis Lange
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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49
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Grande LA, Swales DA, Sandman CA, Glynn LM, Davis EP. Maternal caregiving ameliorates the consequences of prenatal maternal psychological distress on child development. Dev Psychopathol 2021;:1-10. [PMID: 34311804 DOI: 10.1017/S0954579421000286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Children exposed to prenatal maternal psychological distress are at elevated risk for a range of adverse outcomes; however, it remains poorly understood whether postnatal influences can ameliorate impairments related to prenatal distress. The current study evaluated if sensitivematernal care during the first postnatal year could mitigate child cognitive and emotional impairments associated with prenatal psychological distress. Prenatal maternal psychological distress was assessed via self-reports of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress for 136 mothers at five prenatal and four postpartum time points. Quality of maternal care (sensitivity to nondistress, positive regard, and intrusiveness reverse-scored) were assessed during a mother-child play interaction at 6 and 12 months. Child cognitive function and negative emotionality were assessed at 2 years, using The Bayley Scales and the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire. Elevated prenatal distress was associated with poorer child cognitive function and elevated negative emotionality. Children exposed to elevated prenatal maternal distress did not, however, display these outcomes if they received high-quality caregiving. Specifically, maternal care moderated the relation between prenatal psychological distress and child cognitive function and negative emotionality. This association remained after consideration of postnatal maternal psychological distress and relevant covariates. Sensitive maternal care was associated with altered offspring developmental trajectories, supporting child resilience following prenatal distress exposure.
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50
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Dean DC, Madrid A, Planalp EM, Moody JF, Papale LA, Knobel KM, Wood EK, McAdams RM, Coe CL, Hill Goldsmith H, Davidson RJ, Alisch RS, Kling PJ. Cord blood DNA methylation modifications in infants are associated with white matter microstructure in the context of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12181. [PMID: 34108589 PMCID: PMC8190282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91642-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal and environmental factors influence brain networks and architecture via both physiological pathways and epigenetic modifications. In particular, prenatal maternal depression and anxiety symptoms appear to impact infant white matter (WM) microstructure, leading us to investigate whether epigenetic modifications (i.e., DNA methylation) contribute to these WM differences. To determine if infants of women with depression and anxiety symptoms exhibit epigenetic modifications linked to neurodevelopmental changes, 52 umbilical cord bloods (CBs) were profiled. We observed 219 differentially methylated genomic positions (DMPs; FDR p < 0.05) in CB that were associated with magnetic resonance imaging measures of WM microstructure at 1 month of age and in regions previously described to be related to maternal depression and anxiety symptoms. Genomic characterization of these associated DMPs revealed 143 unique genes with significant relationships to processes involved in neurodevelopment, GTPase activity, or the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Separate regression models for female (n = 24) and male (n = 28) infants found 142 associated DMPs in females and 116 associated DMPs in males (nominal p value < 0.001, R > 0.5), which were annotated to 98 and 81 genes, respectively. Together, these findings suggest that umbilical CB DNA methylation levels at birth are associated with 1-month WM microstructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas C Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Planalp
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jason F Moody
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karla M Knobel
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Wood
- Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ryan M McAdams
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
| | - Christopher L Coe
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - H Hill Goldsmith
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Richard J Davidson
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Psychology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Center for Healthy Minds, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Pamela J Kling
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
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