Antenatal depression linked to development problems
Friday, 27 Jun 2008 00:01
Antenatal depression has been linked with child development delays
Babies born to mothers who had depression during pregnancy are more likely to have problems with development, research has found.
Scientists at University of the West of England and the University of Bristol found that persistent antenatal depression raised the risk of child development problems by more than a third (34 per cent).
If the depression continued after birth (postnatal depression) then the risk of developmental delay was estimated to be 50 per cent.
The research, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, follows earlier studies that have linked postnatal depression with a detrimental effect on child development.
Scientists studied data from 11,098 women in Avon, England, who had an estimated date of delivery between April 1991 and December 1992.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess the level of maternal depression and the Denver Developmental Screening Test II was used to assess child development.
Dr Toity Deave from the University of the West of England, said: "I believe the most important finding from our study is that maternal antenatal depression has a negative impact on children's cognitive development, even when postnatal depression has been taken into account.
"The other important message is that it is the persistence of depression, as well as the intensity of antenatal depression, that has an impact on the child."
Commenting on the study, Professor Philip Steer, BJOG editor-in-chief, said: "Although there is clear evidence that women who experience antenatal depression are more likely to develop postnatal depression, little research has looked separately at antenatal depression and its effects on child development.
"This study is important because it has done just that and has found a significant link."
He added: "Maternal depression, both antenatally and postnatally, has a significant impact on women and their families.
"It is essential for doctors, midwives and other healthcare professionals to be aware and play an active role in assessing and identifying maternal depression, so that those at-risk can receive appropriate support and care during pregnancy and post-birth."