Intergenerational transmission of maltreatment and psychopathology: the role of antenatal depression

BACKGROUND

Maternal experience of childhood maltreatment and maternal antenatal depression are both associated with offspring childhood maltreatment and offspring adjustment problems. We have investigated the relative impact of maternal childhood maltreatment and exposure to depression in utero on offspring maltreatment and psychopathology.

METHOD

The sample included 125 families from the South London Child Development Study. A prospective longitudinal design was used. Data on maternal childhood maltreatment, maternal antenatal depression (36 weeks of pregnancy), offspring childhood maltreatment (age 11 years) and offspring adolescent antisocial behaviour and depression (ages 11 and 16 years) were obtained from parents and offspring through clinical interview.

RESULTS

Mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment were significantly more likely to be depressed during pregnancy [odds ratio (OR) 10.00]. Offspring of mothers who experienced only childhood maltreatment or only antenatal depression were no more at risk of being maltreated or having psychopathology; however, offspring of mothers who experienced both maternal childhood maltreatment and antenatal depression were exposed to significantly greater levels of childhood maltreatment and exhibited significantly higher levels of adolescent antisocial behaviour compared with offspring not so exposed. Furthermore, maternal childhood maltreatment accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in offspring childhood maltreatment in only those offspring exposed to depression in utero.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal childhood maltreatment and maternal antenatal depression are highly associated. The co-occurrence of both insults significantly increases the risk of offspring adversity. The antenatal period is an optimum period to identify vulnerable women and to provide interventions.

Trisomy 17p10-p12 resulting from a supernumerary marker chromosome derived from chromosome 17: molecular analysis and delineation of the phenotype

We report a 5-year-old boy with a small de novo marker chromosome derived from the proximal short arm of chromosome 17. His clinical features include hypotonia, global developmental delay, oval face with large nose and prominent ears, and ligamentous laxity of the fingers. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated mildly delayed myelination. G-band chromosome analysis revealed mosaicism for a small marker chromosome in 85% of the peripheral blood cells analyzed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and microsatellite polymorphism studies showed that the der(17) was of maternal origin and included genetic material from the 17p10-p12 region, but did not contain the PMP22 gene. One breakpoint mapped within the centromere and the second breakpoint mapped adjacent to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A proximal low-copy repeat (CMT1A-REP). We compare the clinical characteristics of our patient with those previously reported to have a duplication involving the proximal short arm region of chromosome 17 to further delineate the phenotype of trisomy 17pl0-p12.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia in a child with constitutional partial trisomy 8 mosaicism

We present a 3-year-old boy with constitutional partial trisomy 8 mosaicism (karyotype 47,XY, + del(8)(p12)/46,XY) who developed chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia and we review the few reported cases of constitutional trisomy 8 mosaicism (CT8M) associated with malignancy. This case highlights the association between CT8M and the development of malignancies, haematological malignancies in particular.

Learning a partial-weight-bearing skill: effectiveness of two forms of feedback

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Partial weight bearing (PWB) is a skill commonly taught by physical therapists. This study compared the effects of practice with either augmented feedback provided during the task (concurrent feedback) or augmented feedback provided after the task (postresponse feedback) for the learning of PWB with crutches.

SUBJECTS

Sixty young adults without known impairment of the neuromusculoskeletal system volunteered for the study.

METHODS

Subjects practiced supporting 30% of body weight while stepping onto a floor scale. Augmented feedback was provided during each trial for the concurrent feedback group and either following each trial or after every five trials for the postresponse feedback groups. Subjects returned 2 days later for a no-feedback retention test.

RESULTS

During practice, the concurrent feedback group was more accurate and consistent than either of the postresponse feedback groups. During retention, however, the postresponse feedback groups were the most accurate; all groups were equally consistent during retention.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

These results suggest that practice with concurrent feedback is beneficial for the immediate performance but not for the learning of this sensorimotor skill.