a test of a programming hypothesis Click Here
Rest and Relaxation at the time of pregnancy - Top Value by Dr. Arie Yeshiaya
from the Danielly Medical Center Click Here
The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
and Allied Disciplines
Authors: Huizink A.C.; Robles de Medina P.G.1; Mulder E.J.H.1; Visser G.H.A.1; Buitelaar J.K.2
Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
September 2003, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 810-818(9)Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
Background:
Animal studies show that prenatal maternal stress may be related to cognitive impairments in offspring. Therefore, we examined whether psychological and endocrinologic measures of stress during human pregnancy predicted developmental outcome of the infant at 3 and 8 months. Method:
Self-report data about daily hassles and pregnancy-specific anxiety and salivary cortisol levels were collected in 170 nulliparous women in early, mid, and late pregnancy in a prospective design, in which healthy infants born at term were followed up after birth. Results:
High levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety in mid-pregnancy predicted lower mental and motor developmental scores at 8 months (p < .05). High amounts of daily hassles in early pregnancy were associated with lower mental developmental scores at 8 months (p < .05). Early morning values of cortisol in late pregnancy were negatively related to both mental and motor development at 3 months (p < .05 and p < .005, respectively) and motor development at 8 months (p < .01). On average a decline of 8 points on the mental and motor development scale was found. All results were adjusted for a large number of covariates. Conclusion:
Stress during pregnancy appears to be one of the determinants of delay in motor and mental development in infants of 8 months of age and may be a risk factor for later developmental problems. Further systematic follow-up of the present sample is needed to determine whether these delays are transient, persistent or even progressive.
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/1469-7610.00166
Affiliations:
1: University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Obstetrics, Neonatology and Gynecology and Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Netherlands;
2: University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Netherlands;
Maternal antenatal anxiety and behavioural/emotional problems in children: a test of a programming hypothesisAuthors: O'Connor T.G.1; Heron J.2; Golding J.2; Glover V.3
Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
October 2003, vol. 44, no. 7, pp. 1025-1036(12)Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
Background:Previous animal investigations link antenatal stress with a range of persistent behavioural abnormalities in the offspring. The current study examined if the effect was also found in humans through middle childhood. Methods:The current study is based on the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a prospective, community-based study that has followed a cohort of women from pregnancy. Self-report measures of maternal anxiety and depression were assessed at repeated intervals in pregnancy and the postnatal period. Children's behavioural/emotional problems were assessed by parent report at age 47 and 81 months. Information on obstetric and psychosocial factors was obtained at several points in pregnancy and the postnatal period. Results:Children whose mothers experienced high levels of anxiety in late pregnancy exhibited higher rates of behavioural/emotional problems at 81 months of age after controlling for obstetric risks, psychosocial disadvantage, and postnatal anxiety and depression (for girls, OR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.26-2.89; for boys, OR = 2.16, 95%CI = 1.41-3.30). Furthermore, the effect at 81 months was comparable to what was previously obtained at 47 months, suggesting the kind of persistent effect proposed in the animal literature. Conclusions:There is evidence that antenatal stress/anxiety has a programming effect on the fetus which lasts at least until middle childhood.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/1469-7610.00187
Affiliations:
1: Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK;
2: University of Bristol, UK;
3: Imperial College, London, UK
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