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Khoury JE, Giles L, Kaur H, Johnson D, Gonzalez A, Atkinson L. Associations between psychological distress and hair cortisol during pregnancy and the early postpartum: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 147:105969. [PMID: 36335755 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy and the early postpartum signify a period of high stress. Perinatal stress can include psychological distress (PD), such as anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as neuroendocrine stress, indexed by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the production of the hormone cortisol. Elevated PD and cortisol levels during the perinatal period can have long-term implications for the mother and child. Methodological advances have enabled the sampling of cortisol from hair, to provide a retrospective marker of HPA axis activity over several months. Despite knowing that maternal PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period independently impact health and development, research to date is unclear as to the association between maternal PD and hair cortisol. The present meta-analysis included 29 studies to assess the strength of the relation between maternal PD and hair cortisol levels during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Several sample and methodological factors were assessed as moderators of this effect. Analyses were conducted using multilevel meta-analysis. Results of the multilevel meta-analysis indicated that the overall effect size between PD and HCC was small but not significant z = 0.039, 95% CI [- 0.001, 0.079]. Moderator analyses indicated that the strength of the association between PD and hair cortisol was moderated by pregnancy status (i.e., effects were stronger in pregnant compared to postpartum samples), timing of HCC and PD measurements (i.e., effects were larger when PD was measured before HCC) and geographic location (i.e., effects were larger in North American studies). The findings advance our understanding of the link between PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period, a time of critical impact to child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Khoury
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Canada.
| | - Lauren Giles
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Hargun Kaur
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Dylan Johnson
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada; Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON Canada
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Hahn-Holbrook J, Davis EP, Sandman CA, Glynn LM. Maternal prenatal cortisol trajectories predict accelerated growth in infancy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 147:105957. [PMID: 36371954 PMCID: PMC10710294 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Higher maternal cortisol in pregnancy has been linked to childhood obesity. Much of the previous research has been limited in that cortisol in pregnancy is only measured at one time-point, precluding the ability to examine critical timing effects of prenatal maternal cortisol. To fill this gap, this longitudinal study measured maternal plasma cortisol at 15, 19, 25, and 31 weeks of pregnancy, and assessed infant body mass index percentile (BMIP)1 at birth, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months in 189 mother-infant pairs. Three distinct patterns of maternal cortisol in pregnancy (typical, steep, and flat trajectories) were identified using general growth mixture modeling (GGMM)2 and then used to predict child growth patterns using multilevel modeling. Infants of mothers who had flat cortisol trajectories, characterized by relatively high cortisol in early gestation that plateaus by mid-gestation, experienced more rapid increases in BMIP from birth to 6 months, and had higher BMIPs at 3 and 6 months, than infants whose mothers had the typical slow cortisol rise over gestation, or steep (rapidly accelerating) trajectories. These results suggest that it is not just the total amount of maternal cortisol in pregnancy that shapes early infant growth, but instead the timing and trajectory of prenatal cortisol exposure. To better understand the early origins of obesity risk, future research is needed to investigate the factors that shape mothers' prenatal cortisol trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
- Department of Psychology, University of California, 5200 Lake Rd, Merced, CA 95343, the United States of America.
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 S Race St, Denver, CO 80210, the United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA 333 The City Blvd. West, Suite 800, Orange, CA 92868-4482, the United States of America.
| | - Curt A Sandman
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA UCI School of Medicine Medical Education, 1001 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92697-4089, the United States of America.
| | - Laura M Glynn
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, the United States of America.
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Tang E, Wiencke JK, Warrier G, Hansen H, McCoy L, Rice T, Bracci PM, Wrensch M, Taylor JW, Clarke JL, Koestler DC, Salas LA, Christensen BC, Kelsey KT, Molinaro AM. Evaluation of cross-platform compatibility of a DNA methylation-based glucocorticoid response biomarker. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:136. [PMID: 36307860 PMCID: PMC9617416 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01352-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Identifying blood-based DNA methylation patterns is a minimally invasive way to detect biomarkers in predicting age, characteristics of certain diseases and conditions, as well as responses to immunotherapies. As microarray platforms continue to evolve and increase the scope of CpGs measured, new discoveries based on the most recent platform version and how they compare to available data from the previous versions of the platform are unknown. The neutrophil dexamethasone methylation index (NDMI 850) is a blood-based DNA methylation biomarker built on the Illumina MethylationEPIC (850K) array that measures epigenetic responses to dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid often administered for inflammation. Here, we compare the NDMI 850 to one we built using data from the Illumina Methylation 450K (NDMI 450). Results The NDMI 450 consisted of 22 loci, 15 of which were present on the NDMI 850. In adult whole blood samples, the linear composite scores from NDMI 450 and NDMI 850 were highly correlated and had equivalent predictive accuracy for detecting DEX exposure among adult glioma patients and non-glioma adult controls. However, the NDMI 450 scores of newborn cord blood were significantly lower than NDMI 850 in samples measured with both assays. Conclusions We developed an algorithm that reproduces the DNA methylation glucocorticoid response score using 450K data, increasing the accessibility for researchers to assess this biomarker in archived or publicly available datasets that use the 450K version of the Illumina BeadChip array. However, the NDMI850 and NDMI450 do not give similar results in cord blood, and due to data availability limitations, results from sample types of newborn cord blood should be interpreted with care. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01352-1.
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Somers JA, Luecken LJ. Prenatal Programming of Behavior Problems via Second-by-Second Infant Emotion Dynamics. Psychol Sci 2022; 33:2027-2039. [PMID: 36206269 PMCID: PMC10068505 DOI: 10.1177/09567976221116816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal adaptations to prenatal maternal stress may confer high risk for childhood behavior problems, potentially operating via dynamic fluctuations in infants' emotions during mother-infant interactions. These fluctuations over time may give rise to behavior problems. Among a sample of 210 low-income mothers of Mexican origin and their 24-week-old infants, dynamic structural equation modeling was used to examine whether within-infant second-by-second emotion processes were predicted by maternal prenatal stress and predicted behavior problems at 36 and 54 months. The mean level around which infant negative affect fluctuated was related to prenatal stress, but not to childhood behavior problems. The volatility in infant negative affect, reflecting greater ebb and flow in infant negative affect during playful interaction, was predicted by prenatal stress and predicted enduring behavior problems in childhood. Results highlight a potential child-driven pathway linking prenatal exposure with childhood behavior problems via infant negative emotional volatility.
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Nevarez-Brewster M, Demers CH, Mejia A, Haase MH, Bagonis MM, Kim SH, Gilmore JH, Hoffman MC, Styner MA, Hankin BL, Davis EP. Longitudinal and prospective assessment of prenatal maternal sleep quality and associations with newborn hippocampal and amygdala volume. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 58:101174. [PMID: 36375383 PMCID: PMC9661438 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rapid maturation of the fetal brain renders the fetus susceptible to prenatal environmental signals. Prenatal maternal sleep quality is known to have important health implications for newborns including risk for preterm birth, however, the effect on the fetal brain is poorly understood. METHOD Participants included 94 pregnant participants and their newborns (53% female). Pregnant participants (Mage = 30; SDage= 5.29) reported on sleep quality three times throughout pregnancy. Newborn hippocampal and amygdala volumes were assessed using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Multilevel modeling was used to test the associations between trajectories of prenatal maternal sleep quality and newborn hippocampal and amygdala volume. RESULTS The overall trajectory of prenatal maternal sleep quality was associated with hippocampal volume (left: b = 0.00003, p = 0.013; right: b = 0.00003, p = .008). Follow up analyses assessing timing of exposure indicate that poor sleep quality early in pregnancy was associated with larger hippocampal volume bilaterally (e.g., late gestation left: b = 0.002, p = 0.24; right: b = 0.004, p = .11). Prenatal sleep quality was not associated with amygdala volume. CONCLUSION These findings highlight the implications of poor prenatal maternal sleep quality and its role in contributing to newborn hippocampal development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine H Demers
- University of Denver, Department of Psychology, United States; University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry, United States
| | - Alexandra Mejia
- University of Denver, Department of Psychology, United States
| | | | - Maria M Bagonis
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, United States
| | - Sun Hyung Kim
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, United States
| | - John H Gilmore
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, United States
| | - M Camille Hoffman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry, United States; University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, United States
| | - Martin A Styner
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, United States; University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Department of Computer Science, United States
| | - Benjamin L Hankin
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Psychology, United States
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- University of Denver, Department of Psychology, United States; University of California, Irvine, Department of Pediatrics, United States
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Ssewanyana D, Knight JA, Matthews SG, Wong J, Khani NA, Lye J, Murphy KE, Foshay K, Okeke J, Lye SJ, Hung RJ. Maternal prenatal psychological distress and vitamin intake with children's neurocognitive development. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:1450-1457. [PMID: 35288638 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal prenatal psychological distress (PPD) is increasingly linked to sub-optimal child neurodevelopment. Daily intake of prenatal vitamin during pre-conception and early pregnancy may ameliorate the effects of PPD on cognition in the offspring. METHODS PPD was assessed in early (12-16 weeks) and late (28-32 weeks) gestation in the Ontario Birth Study. Prenatal vitamin supplement intake information was collected in early gestation. Child cognition at 4 years was assessed using the NIH Toolbox. Poisson regression was used to investigate associations between PPD and/or prenatal vitamin intake and child cognition. RESULTS Four hundred and eighteen mother-child dyads were assessed. Moderate-severe PPD experienced during early gestation was associated with reduced cognition (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRRadj) = 3.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-8.77, P = 0.003). Daily intake of prenatal vitamins was not associated with cognition (IRRadj = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.73-2.46, P = 0.34). Upon stratification, the experience of mild-severe PPD with daily intake of prenatal vitamins was associated with higher incident rates of suboptimal cognition compared to children of women with daily prenatal vitamin intake without any episode of PPD (IRRadj = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.1-7.4). CONCLUSIONS Moderate-severe PPD in early pregnancy is associated with poor cognition in children and daily intake of prenatal vitamin did not ameliorate this association. IMPACT Our findings expand on existing literature by highlighting that exposure to prenatal psychological distress (PPD), in moderate-to-severe form, in the early stages of pregnancy, can have detrimental effects on the offspring's cognitive development at 4 years. Overall, prenatal vitamin intake did not ameliorate the effects of PPD. Early screening and treatment of prenatal maternal mental illness is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick Ssewanyana
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julia A Knight
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jody Wong
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nadya Adel Khani
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer Lye
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kellie E Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kim Foshay
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Justin Okeke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rayjean J Hung
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Espejo-Beristain G, Ahuja-Aguirre C, Carrasco-García AA, Hernandez-Cruz B, Paredes-Ramos P. Environmental enrichment for primiparous and multiparous pregnant sows and its effect on cortisol and behavior at farrowing and production parameters at weaning. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Chrzan-Dętkoś M, Rodríguez-Muñoz MF, Krupelnytska L, Morozova-Larina O, Vavilova A, López HG, Murawaska N, Radoš SN. Good Practices in Perinatal Mental Health for Women during Wars and Migrations: A Narrative Synthesis from the COST Action Riseup-PPD in the Context of the War in Ukraine. CLÍNICA Y SALUD 2022. [DOI: 10.5093/clysa2022a14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
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Cera G, Locantore P, Novizio R, Maggio E, Ramunno V, Corsello A, Policola C, Concolino P, Paragliola RM, Pontecorvi A. Pregnancy and Prenatal Management of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11206156. [PMID: 36294476 PMCID: PMC9605322 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11206156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive diseases that may cause cortisol insufficiency together with other hormonal alterations. The most common form is 21-hydroxylase deficiency, in which the lack of pituitary negative feedback causes an increase in ACTH and adrenal androgens. Classical forms of CAHs can lead to severe adrenal failure and female virilization. To date, the appropriate management of pregnant CAH patients is still debated regarding appropriate maternal therapy modifications during pregnancy and the risks and benefits of prenatal treatment of the fetus. We conducted a literature search of relevant papers to collect current evidence and experiences on the topic. The most recent and significant articles were selected, and current international guidelines were consulted to update current recommendations and guide clinical practice. Given the lack of randomized clinical trials and other high-quality scientific evidence, the issue is still debated, and great heterogeneity exists in current practice in terms of risk/benefit evaluation and pharmacological choices for pregnancy and prenatal treatment. Glucocorticoid therapy is advised not only in classical CAH patients but also in non-classical, milder forms. The choice of which glucocorticoid to use, and the safety and benefits of dexamethasone therapy aimed at preventing genital virilization are still debated issues. Several advances, however, have been made, especially in terms of fertility and reproduction. This review aims to present the most recent scientific and real-world updates on pregnancy and prenatal management of CAH, with the presentation of various clinical scenarios and specific case-by-case recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Cera
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Locantore
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Roberto Novizio
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore Maggio
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Vittoria Ramunno
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Corsello
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Policola
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Concolino
- Unit of Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Laboratory and Infectiology Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Paragliola
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Unicamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Medical Sciences, Via di S. Alessandro 10, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
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The role of body dissatisfaction and self-compassion in pregnancy-related anxiety. J Affect Disord 2022; 313:84-91. [PMID: 35772628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women undergo significant physical, physiological, and psychological changes during pregnancy. They are also exposed to sociocultural pressure to meet appearance-related ideals. These pregnancy-related changes and sociocultural appearance-related pressures may place pregnant women at greater vulnerability to developing body dissatisfaction and psychological distress. To date, however, little is known about how sociocultural pressure may influence pregnancy-related anxiety, or factors that may protect against such distress during pregnancy. This study examined whether body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between appearance-related sociocultural pressure and pregnancy-related anxiety, and whether this relationship was moderated by self-compassion and/or self-criticism. METHOD A cross-sectional sample of 253 pregnant women (Mage = 26.28, SDage = 4.43) completed an online questionnaire measuring sociocultural pressure, body dissatisfaction, pregnancy-related anxiety, and self-compassion. RESULTS Moderated mediation analyses revealed body dissatisfaction fully mediated the relationship between sociocultural pressure and pregnancy-related anxiety. Analyses confirmed the moderating role of self-compassion and self-criticism on the relationship between sociocultural pressure and body dissatisfaction, but not on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and pregnancy-related anxiety. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional nature of this study limits confirmation of the direction of relationships between sociocultural pressure, body dissatisfaction and pregnancy-related anxiety. CONCLUSIONS While the findings of this study need to be replicated in prospective and longitudinal studies, they suggest that sociocultural pressure to meet appearance-related standards contribute to body dissatisfaction, which in turn may facilitate pregnancy-related anxiety. Self-compassion may protect the body image of pregnant women against negative effects of appearance-related sociocultural pressure.
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Murphy HR, Gu Y, Wu Q, Brunner J, Panisch LS, Best M, Arnold MS, Duberstein ZT, Putzig J, Carnahan J, Groth SW, Barrett ES, Qiu X, O'Connor TG. Prenatal diurnal cortisol: Normative patterns and associations with affective symptoms and stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 143:105856. [PMID: 35797838 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in pregnancy has attracted considerable research attention, in part, because it may be a mechanism by which diverse prenatal exposures alter perinatal and child health outcomes. Symptoms of affective disturbance and stress are among the most-studied prenatal factors associated with HPA axis alterations, but there remains uncertainty about the nature of the association because of the limitations to, and variability in, data collection and analytic approaches. The current study capitalized on a prospective, longitudinal pregnancy cohort that examined salivary diurnal cortisol, collected at 5 time points across the day, at each trimester in a diverse sample of women. Detailed data on affective symptoms and major life events were collected at each trimester, as were data on health behaviors, medication, and socio-demographics. Results indicated modest stability of individual differences in diurnal cortisol across pregnancy, which was evident for diurnal slope (ICC = .20) and measures of total output (area under the curve, ICC = .25); substantial gestation-related increases in total cortisol output across pregnancy was also observed (p < .001). Adjusting for health behaviors, medication, and socio-demographic covariates, elevated levels of depressive symptoms and major life events were significantly (p < .05) associated with a higher morning awakening value and flatter diurnal slope, which was evident across all trimesters. In addition to the normative gestation-related changes in cortisol production, our results demonstrate selective but robust associations between psychological symptoms, stressors, and the HPA axis across gestation, and suggest both methodological and mechanistic strategies for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Murphy
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Yu Gu
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Qiuyi Wu
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Jessica Brunner
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Lisa S Panisch
- Wayne State University School of Social Work, 5447 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Meghan Best
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Molly S Arnold
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O. Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Zoe T Duberstein
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O. Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Jenelle Putzig
- Pediatrics Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Jennifer Carnahan
- Pediatrics Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Susan W Groth
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 255 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Xing Qiu
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Thomas G O'Connor
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O. Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Neuroscience, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 603, KMRB G.9602, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Psychiatry, University of Rochester, 300 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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Gupta L, Hoffman KW. Exploring the intersection of the microbiome and the developing brain: Impacts on schizophrenia risk. Schizophr Res 2022; 247:92-100. [PMID: 34483026 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings show that the perinatal maternal and infant microbiomes have profound potential to impact long term health outcomes. Of particular interest are the ways in which the microbiome influences the developing brain during one of its most critical windows. Schizophrenia and psychosis risk are strongly connected to disruptions in perinatal neurodevelopment. In this review we present an overview of critical aspects in development of both the microbiome and brain, discuss their overlap, and consider what role the microbiome plays in schizophrenia risk during the perinatal window. Considering this, we discuss ways in which expecting and new mothers may reduce offspring schizophrenia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipi Gupta
- The University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kevin W Hoffman
- The University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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63
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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] [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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64
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Antenatal depressive symptoms and behavioral outcomes in children at 78 months: A study from South India. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2022; 9. [PMID: 35811630 PMCID: PMC9261908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Low and middle income countries report a higher prevalence of antenatal depression. The association between antenatal depressive symptoms and behavioral outcomes in children at 78 months in motherchild dyads who participated in a randomized control trial of maternal B12 supplementation during pregnancy was examined in this study. Methods: Children of 140 women, out of 366 who had participated in the placebo-controlled, randomized trial of vitamin B12 supplementation during pregnancy and 6 weeks post-partum, on whom serial assessments of depressive symptoms in each of the trimesters were done using the Kessler’s 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10), were assessed using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 78 months. Results: Thirty seven women (26.4%) reported depressive symptoms at one trimester (intermittent group) and 28 women (20%) had depressive symptoms in at least 2 trimesters (persistent group). On adjusted bivariate regression analysis, children of women with intermittent antenatal depressive symptoms scored lower on the prosocial behavior subscale of SDQ compared to children of mothers with no depressive symptoms ( B=;−0.91, 95% CI: −1.65,−0.18; p=0.016). Limitations: The use of a screening measure to assess maternal depression, the assessment of the children’s behavior based only on the mothers’ reports and the small number of women with persistent depressive symptoms in our sample is important limitations. Conclusions: The possible association between antenatal depressive symptoms and prosocial behavior in children point to the need for routine assessment and intervention for emotional disorders during pregnancy.
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Ford K, Bellis MA, Judd N, Griffith N, Hughes K. The use of mobile phone applications to enhance personal safety from interpersonal violence - an overview of available smartphone applications in the United Kingdom. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1158. [PMID: 35681167 PMCID: PMC9185885 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13551-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interpersonal violence has devastating implications for individuals, families, and communities across the globe, placing a significant burden on health, justice, and social welfare systems. Smartphone technology may provide a platform for violence prevention interventions. However, evidence on the availability and user experience of smartphone applications aimed to prevent violence is underexplored. Methods Systematic searches of available smartphone applications marketed for personal safety and violence prevention on the Apple Store (IOS) and Google Play (Android) in the United Kingdom were run in May 2021. Relevant applications were downloaded, with data on user reviews and ratings extracted. Included applications were categorised according to their features and functions. Online user reviews were rated according to their sentiment (positive, negative, neutral) and thematically analysed. Results Of 503 applications, 86 apps met review criteria. Only 52 (61%) apps offered full functionality free of charge. Over half (52%) of apps were targeted towards the general population, with 16% targeting women and 13% targeting families. App functionality varied with 22% providing an alarm, 71% sending alerts to pre-designated contacts, 34% providing evidence capture and 26% offering educational information. Overall, 71% of applications had a user rating of four or above. For 61 apps a total of 3,820 user reviews were extracted. Over half (52.4%) of reviews were rated as having a positive sentiment, with 8.8% neutral and 38.8% negative. Key themes across user reviews included positive consequences of app use, technical and usage issues including app reliability, dissatisfaction with the financial cost of some app features and personal data and ethical issues. Conclusions Reviews suggest that users find apps for personal safety and violence prevention useful. However, individuals also report them being unreliable, not working as described and having features that others may exploit. Findings have implications for the development of policy on apps to improve personal safety, especially given recent national policy (e.g. UK) discussions about their utility. Without the regulation or accreditation of such technology for quality assurance and reliability, emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring user safety; otherwise vulnerable individuals may continue to place reliance on untested technology in potentially dangerous circumstances. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13551-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kat Ford
- Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK.
| | - Mark A Bellis
- Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being, Policy and International Health, Public Health Wales, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK
| | - Natasha Judd
- Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK
| | - Nel Griffith
- Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK
| | - Karen Hughes
- Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being, Policy and International Health, Public Health Wales, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK
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66
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Zimmermann P, Antonelli MC, Sharma R, Müller A, Zelgert C, Fabre B, Wenzel N, Wu HT, Frasch MG, Lobmaier SM. Prenatal stress perturbs fetal iron homeostasis in a sex specific manner. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9341. [PMID: 35662279 PMCID: PMC9167276 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13633-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The adverse effects of maternal prenatal stress (PS) on child's neurodevelopment warrant the establishment of biomarkers that enable early interventional therapeutic strategies. We performed a prospective matched double cohort study screening 2000 pregnant women in third trimester with Cohen Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) questionnaire; 164 participants were recruited and classified as stressed and control group (SG, CG). Fetal cord blood iron parameters of 107 patients were measured at birth. Transabdominal electrocardiograms-based Fetal Stress Index (FSI) was derived. We investigated sex contribution to group differences and conducted causal inference analyses to assess the total effect of PS exposure on iron homeostasis using a directed acyclic graph (DAG) approach. Differences are reported for p < 0.05 unless noted otherwise. Transferrin saturation was lower in male stressed neonates. The minimum adjustment set of the DAG to estimate the total effect of PS exposure on fetal ferritin iron biomarkers consisted of maternal age and socioeconomic status: SG revealed a 15% decrease in fetal ferritin compared with CG. Mean FSI was higher among SG than among CG. FSI-based timely detection of fetuses affected by PS can support early individualized iron supplementation and neurodevelopmental follow-up to prevent long-term sequelae due to PS-exacerbated impairment of the iron homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Zimmermann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marta C Antonelli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias "Prof. E. De Robertis," Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ritika Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Helmholtz Zentrum Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Müller
- Innere Medizin I, Department of Cardiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Camilla Zelgert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bibiana Fabre
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natasha Wenzel
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hau-Tieng Wu
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Statistical Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Mathematics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Martin G Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Silvia M Lobmaier
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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67
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Urizar GG, Muñoz RF. Role of Maternal Depression on Child Development: A Prospective Analysis from Pregnancy to Early Childhood. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022; 53:502-514. [PMID: 33646485 PMCID: PMC10911822 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01138-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have examined how different characteristics of maternal depression may be associated with developmental outcomes among low-income children. The current study prospectively examined whether the timing (pregnancy vs. early postpartum), severity, and chronicity of maternal depression were associated with child cognitive and social-emotional development in two cohorts of primarily low-income Latinx immigrant mothers and their children. Maternal depression was assessed during pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. Child development was assessed up to 5 years postpartum. Results showed that maternal depression experienced during pregnancy was associated with lower child cognitive development, particularly among girls. Additionally, both the timing (pregnancy and early postpartum) and severity/chronicity of maternal depression were each independently associated with lower child social-emotional development. These findings highlight the need for early prevention interventions to help offset the adverse effects of maternal depression on child developmental outcomes in this at-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido G Urizar
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA, 90840-0901, USA.
| | - Ricardo F Muñoz
- Department of Psychology and Institute for International Internet Interventions for Health, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
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68
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prenatal maternal stress is associated with adverse offspring outcomes, which may be mediated by maternal stress hormones. However, evidence supporting the association between maternal stress and cortisol levels in high-risk pregnancies is limited. This study aims to determine the relationship between self-reported maternal mental distress and maternal salivary cortisol levels in pregnancies complicated by foetal CHD compared with healthy pregnancies. METHODS We recruited women with pregnancies complicated by foetal CHD and healthy pregnancies. Maternal saliva was collected between 22 and 40 gestational weeks. Standardized questionnaires measuring stress, depression, and anxiety were completed by patients. Generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate associations between maternal mental distress scales and cortisol levels. RESULTS We studied 165 women (55 CHD, 110 controls) and collected 504 cortisol samples (160 CHD, 344 controls). Women carrying CHD foetuses had higher stress, anxiety, and depression scores compared to women carrying healthy foetuses. However, maternal cortisol levels did not significantly differ in CHD and controls. Cortisol levels were higher in women carrying foetuses with functionally single-ventricle versus two-ventricle CHD. In both CHD and controls, there was no significant association between maternal stress, depression or anxiety scores and cortisol levels. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that self-reported maternal stress, anxiety, and depression are not associated with maternal salivary cortisol levels in CHD and healthy pregnancies. The impact of maternal mental distress on foetal health may be through other mediating pathways other than maternal cortisol concentrations.
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Hantzopoulou GC, Sawyer G, Tilbrook A, Narayan E. Intra- and Inter-sample Variation in Wool Cortisol Concentrations of Australian Merino Lambs Between Twice or Single Shorn Ewes. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.890914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress in Merino sheep can cause a reduction in the quantity and quality of fine wool production. Furthermore, it has been found that environmental stress during pregnancy can negatively affect the wool follicles of the developing fetus. This study was part of a larger field investigation on the effects maternal shearing frequency on sheep reproductive and productivity outcomes. For this study, we investigated the intra- and inter- sample variation in wool cortisol levels of weaner lambs. We conducted two experiments, the first was to determine the intra- and inter- sample variation in wool samples taken from the topknot of weaned lambs, and the other aim was to determine any difference between maternal shearing treatment (single or twice shearing) on absolute wool cortisol levels of weaned lambs. In the first experiment, topknot wool was collected from 10 lambs, and each sample was further divided into four subsamples, leading to a total of 40 wool subsamples. For the second experiment, we collected the topknot from the 23 lambs produced by the shearing frequency treatment ewes (once or twice shorn). The samples were then extracted and analyzed using a commercially available cortisol enzyme-immunoassay in order to determine the concentration of cortisol in each of the samples. Statistical analysis for the first experiment showed that there was no significant difference between the subsamples of each topknot wool sample taken from each lamb (p = 0.39), but there was a statistical difference between samples (p < 0.001), which was to be expected. In the second experiment, there was a significant difference between the lambs born to the one shearing and two shearing treatments (p = 0.033), with the lambs of the twice sheared ewes having higher average wool cortisol levels [2.304 ± 0.497 ng/g (SE); n = 14] than the ones born to once shorn ewes [1.188 ± 0.114 ng/g (SE), n = 8]. This study confirms that the topknot wool sampling can be a reliable method adapted by researchers for wool hormonal studies in lambs. Second, ewes shorn mid-pregnancy gave birth to lambs with higher cortisol concentrations than ewes that remained unshorn during pregnancy. This result warrants further investigation in a controlled study to determine if maternal access to nutrition (feed and water) may impact on the HPA-axis of lambs.
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70
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McGuinn LA, Tamayo-Ortiz M, Rosa MJ, Harari H, Osorio-Valencia E, Schnaas L, Hernandez-Chavez C, Wright RJ, Klein DN, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO. The influence of maternal anxiety and cortisol during pregnancy on childhood anxiety symptoms. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 139:105704. [PMID: 35286908 PMCID: PMC8977283 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of child and adolescent anxiety remains poorly understood. Although several previous studies have examined associations between prenatal maternal psychological functioning and infant and child health outcomes, less is known about the impact of maternal anxiety specific to pregnancy and cortisol during pregnancy on childhood anxiety outcomes. METHODS Participants included 496 mother-child pairs from the PROGRESS longitudinal birth cohort in Mexico City. Anxiety symptoms were assessed at age 8-11 years during 2018-2019 using the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Pregnancy-specific anxiety was assessed using an expanded version of the Pregnancy Anxiety Scale. Maternal biological stress response during pregnancy was assessed using salivary cortisol measures (area under the curve, cortisol awakening response, and diurnal slope). Linear regression models were used to estimate associations between maternal anxiety and cortisol in relation to continuous child anxiety symptom T-scores. Models were adjusted for maternal age, socioeconomic status, child sex and age, and gestational age at saliva collection. RESULTS We found that higher levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety in the mother were associated with higher anxiety symptoms in the child (β: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.19, 2.41). We additionally observed an association between higher maternal total cortisol output during pregnancy and higher anxiety symptoms in the child (β: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.25, 2.01). DISCUSSION These findings highlight the importance of screening for maternal pregnancy-specific anxiety and the need to identify interventions and support for mothers during pregnancy in order to promote healthy outcomes for mothers and their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A McGuinn
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz
- Occupational Health Research Unit, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria José Rosa
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Homero Harari
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Rosalind J 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, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel N Klein
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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71
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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] [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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72
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Non-nutritive bioactive components in maternal milk and offspring development: a scoping review. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2022; 13:665-673. [PMID: 35387707 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174422000149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Lactation is a critical time in mammalian development, where maternal factors shape offspring outcomes. In this scoping review, we discuss current literature concerning maternal factors that influence lactation biology and highlight important associations between changes in milk composition and offspring outcomes. Specifically, we explore maternal nutritional, psychosocial, and environmental exposures that influence non-nutritive bioactive components in milk and their links to offspring growth, development, metabolic, and behavioral outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Predetermined eligibility criteria were used to analyze 3,275 papers, and the final review included 40 primary research articles. Outcomes of this review identify maternal obesity to be a leading maternal factor influencing the non-nutritive bioactive composition of milk with notable links to offspring outcomes. Offspring growth and development are the most common modes of programming associated with changes in non-nutritive milk composition due to maternal factors in early life. In addition to discussing studies investigating these key associations, we also identify knowledge gaps in the current literature and suggest opportunities and considerations for future studies.
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73
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Gale-Grant O, Fenn-Moltu S, França LGS, Dimitrova R, Christiaens D, Cordero-Grande L, Chew A, Falconer S, Harper N, Price AN, Hutter J, Hughes E, O'Muircheartaigh J, Rutherford M, Counsell SJ, Rueckert D, Nosarti C, Hajnal JV, McAlonan G, Arichi T, Edwards AD, Batalle D. Effects of gestational age at birth on perinatal structural brain development in healthy term-born babies. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:1577-1589. [PMID: 34897872 PMCID: PMC8886657 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infants born in early term (37-38 weeks gestation) experience slower neurodevelopment than those born at full term (40-41 weeks gestation). While this could be due to higher perinatal morbidity, gestational age at birth may also have a direct effect on the brain. Here we characterise brain volume and white matter correlates of gestational age at birth in healthy term-born neonates and their relationship to later neurodevelopmental outcome using T2 and diffusion weighted MRI acquired in the neonatal period from a cohort (n = 454) of healthy babies born at term age (>37 weeks gestation) and scanned between 1 and 41 days after birth. Images were analysed using tensor-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics. Neurodevelopment was assessed at age 18 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Infants born earlier had higher relative ventricular volume and lower relative brain volume in the deep grey matter, cerebellum and brainstem. Earlier birth was also associated with lower fractional anisotropy, higher mean, axial, and radial diffusivity in major white matter tracts. Gestational age at birth was positively associated with all Bayley-III subscales at age 18 months. Regression models predicting outcome from gestational age at birth were significantly improved after adding neuroimaging features associated with gestational age at birth. This work adds to the body of evidence of the impact of early term birth and highlights the importance of considering the effect of gestational age at birth in future neuroimaging studies including term-born babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Gale-Grant
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sunniva Fenn-Moltu
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lucas G S França
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Daan Christiaens
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lucilio Cordero-Grande
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,Biomedical Image Technologies, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and CIBER-BBN, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew Chew
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Shona Falconer
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas Harper
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony N Price
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jana Hutter
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emer Hughes
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mary Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel Rueckert
- Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Department of Medicine and Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Chiara Nosarti
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joseph V Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - A David Edwards
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dafnis Batalle
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
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74
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Capitanio JP, Del Rosso LA, Gee N, Lasley BL. Adverse biobehavioral effects in infants resulting from pregnant rhesus macaques' exposure to wildfire smoke. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1774. [PMID: 35365649 PMCID: PMC8975955 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29436-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As wildfires across the world increase in number, size, and intensity, exposure to wildfire smoke (WFS) is a growing health problem. To date, however, little is known for any species on what might be the behavioral or physiological consequences of prenatal exposure to WFS. Here we show that infant rhesus monkeys exposed to WFS in the first third of gestation (n = 52) from the Camp Fire (California, November, 2018) show greater inflammation, blunted cortisol, more passive behavior, and memory impairment compared to animals conceived after smoke had dissipated (n = 37). Parallel analyses, performed on a historical control cohort (n = 2490), did not support the alternative hypothesis that conception timing alone could explain the results. We conclude that WFS may have a teratogenic effect on the developing fetus and speculate on mechanisms by which WFS might affect neural development. Little is known about the consequences of prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke on biobehavioural outcomes. Here, the authors show that infant rhesus monkeys exposed early in gestation to wildfire smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire in California show more inflammation, blunted cortisol and altered behaviour outcomes compared to non-exposed animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Laura A Del Rosso
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nancy Gee
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bill L Lasley
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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75
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Levin-Schwartz Y, Cowell W, Leon Hsu HH, Enlow MB, Amarasiriwardena C, Andra SS, Wright RJ, Wright RO. Metal mixtures are associated with increased anxiety during pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112276. [PMID: 34717944 PMCID: PMC8671328 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to low-dose toxic metals in the environment is ubiquitous. Several murine studies have shown metals induce anxiety-like behaviors, and mechanistic research supports that metals disrupt neurotransmitter signaling systems implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety. In this study, we extend prior research by examining joint exposure to six metals in relation to maternal anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. METHODS The sample includes 380 participants enrolled in the PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) pregnancy cohort. Spot urine was collected during pregnancy (mean ± standard deviation: 31.1 ± 6.1 weeks), and concentrations of six metals (barium [Ba], cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], cesium [Cs], lead [Pb], antimony [Sb]) were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry. Trait anxiety symptoms were measured during pregnancy using a short version of the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) and information on covariates was collected by questionnaire. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression as the primary modeling approach to examine metals, treated as a mixture, in relation to higher (≥20) vs. lower anxiety symptoms while adjusting for urinary creatinine and key sociodemographic variables. RESULTS The sample is socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse. Urinary metal concentrations were log-normally distributed and 25% of the sample had an STAI-T score ≥20. Joint exposure to metals was associated with elevated anxiety symptoms (ORWQS = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.96); Cd (61.8%), Cr (14.7%), and Cs (12.7%) contributed the greatest weight to the mixture effect. CONCLUSION Exposure to metals in the environment may be associated with anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. This is a public health concern, as anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and associated with significant co-morbidities, especially during pregnancy when both the mother and developing fetus are susceptible to adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Levin-Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Whitney Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Hsiao-Hsien Leon Hsu
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Syam S Andra
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, 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; Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, 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
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76
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Multi-level hypothalamic neuromodulation of self-regulation and cognition in preterm infants: Towards a control systems model. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 9:100109. [PMID: 35755927 PMCID: PMC9216652 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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77
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Veringa-Skiba IK, Ziemer K, de Bruin EI, de Bruin EJ, Bögels SM. Mindful awareness as a mechanism of change for natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:47. [PMID: 35045820 PMCID: PMC8767678 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04380-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) is effective in increasing natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC) as compared to enhanced care as usual (ECAU). We aimed to examine through which pathway of action MBCP reaches this effect, based on a model of approaching or avoiding the challenges related to childbirth. METHODS One hundred eleven pregnant women with high FOC were measured pre- and post-intervention on FOC (emotion pathway), catastrophic beliefs about labour pain (cognition pathway) and mindful awareness (attention pathway). A multiple mediation model was used to examine through which pathway the mechanism of change operated in relation to approach (i.e., natural childbirth) versus avoidance (i.e., self-requested caesarean section). RESULTS It was found that greater mindful awareness (18% R2 = 0.18, F[1107] = 22.77, p < 0.0001) was the only significant mechanism of change operating through the attentional pathway leading to natural childbirth. More specifically, nonreactivity to inner experience (a facet of mindful awareness) showed to be the strongest mechanism of change. More extensive meditation practice was positively associated with natural childbirth; however, the number of completed MBCP sessions was not associated with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS An increase in mindful awareness was the strongest mechanism of change for better adaptation to the challenges of childbirth. Decreases in neither FOC nor catastrophic beliefs about labour pain were identified as mechanisms of change. Additionally, the more one meditated, the more one was inclined towards a natural childbirth. MBCP enhances adaptation to the challenges of childbirth and less use of obstetric interventions in the presence of high FOC. TRIAL REGISTRATION The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR; 4302 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena K Veringa-Skiba
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE), 8 Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Research Priority Area Yield, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Kelly Ziemer
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE), 8 Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Research Priority Area Yield, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- University of California-Berkeley, School of Social Welfare, Haviland Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94709, USA
| | - Esther I de Bruin
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE), 8 Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Research Priority Area Yield, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- UvA-minds, Academic Treatment Center of the University of Amsterdam, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ed J de Bruin
- UvA-minds, Academic Treatment Center of the University of Amsterdam, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Susan M Bögels
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE), 8 Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Research Priority Area Yield, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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78
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Makris G, Agorastos A, Chrousos GP, Pervanidou P. Stress System Activation in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:756628. [PMID: 35095389 PMCID: PMC8793840 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.756628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mission of the human stress system is the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real or perceived, acute or chronic stressors. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are the stress system-related neuroendocrine pathways. There is abundant evidence that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may exhibit atypical function within the HPA axis and the ANS both at the resting state and during the presence of social and/or non-social stressors. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the findings regarding stress system alterations in children and adolescents with ASD. We focus on the variations of stress hormones circadian rhythms, specifically cortisol and alpha-amylase (i.e., a surrogate index of epinephrine/norepinephrine secretion), and on the alterations of stress system responsivity to different stressors. Also, we present imaging and immunological findings that have been associated with stress system dysregulation in children and adolescents with ASD. Finally, we review the pivotal role of HPA axis-ANS coordination, the developmental trajectory of the stress system in ASD, and the possible role of early life stress in the dysregulation of the stress system demonstrated in children and adolescents with ASD. This synthesis will hopefully provide researchers with a foundation for an integrated approach to future research into stress system variations in children and adolescents with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerasimos Makris
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- *Correspondence: Gerasimos Makris,
| | - Agorastos Agorastos
- Department of Psychiatry II, Division of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George P. Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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79
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Caparros-Gonzalez RA, Lynn F, Alderdice F, Peralta-Ramirez MI. Cortisol levels versus self-report stress measures during pregnancy as predictors of adverse infant outcomes: a systematic review. Stress 2022; 25:189-212. [PMID: 35435113 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2022.2059348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systematically review existing evidence to (1) identify the association between self-report stress and cortisol levels measured during pregnancy; and, (2) assess their association with adverse infant outcomes to determine which is the better predictor. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Search terms focused on pregnancy, psychological stress and cortisol. Nine electronic databases were searched, in addition to reference lists of relevant papers. Eligibility criteria consisted of studies that included measurement of self-reported psychological stress, cortisol and assessed their associations with any infant-related outcome. Further limits included studies published in English or Spanish with human female participants. A meta-regression was not feasible due to differences in study samples, measurement tools employed, types of cortisol assessed and outcomes reported. A narrative synthesis was provided. 28 studies were eligible for inclusion. Convergent validity between self-report measures and cortisol was reported by three studies (range r = 0.12-0.41). Higher levels of self-report stress were significantly associated with intrauterine growth restriction (fetal biparietal diameter, low fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference), low gestational age at birth, low anthropometric measures (birth length, head circumference, length of the neonate), poor infant neurodevelopment (cognitive development) and potentially pathogenic gut microbiota (Clostridiaceae Clostridium, Haemophilus) in six studies. Higher cortisol levels were significantly associated with intrauterine growth restriction (fetal biparietal diameter, low fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference), low gestational age at birth, low infant birth weight, poor infant neurodevelopment (attention scores on the Network Neurobehavioral Scale) and low levels of potentially protective gut microbiota (Lactobacillus, Slackia and Actinobaculum) in 13 studies. Of the studies that assessed which type of measure was a better predictor of infant outcomes (n = 6), there was agreement that cortisol levels were statistically better at predicting adverse outcomes than self-reported stress. Self-report stress measures appear to be modest predictors of adverse infant outcomes in comparison to cortisol. A number of methodological limitations need to be addressed in future studies to help understand the relationship between cortisol and self-reported stress and how they are related to adverse infant outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Fiona Lynn
- Medical Biology Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Fiona Alderdice
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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80
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Stout-Oswald SA, Glynn LM, Bisoffi M, Demers CH, Davis EP. Prenatal exposure to maternal psychological distress and telomere length in childhood. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22238. [PMID: 35050506 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a biological marker of cellular aging, and shorter TL in adulthood is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk. It is likely that these differences in TL are established long before adulthood, and there is growing evidence that TL can reflect prenatal experiences. Although maternal prenatal distress predicts newborn TL, it is unknown whether the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress and child TL persists through childhood. The purpose of the current longitudinal, prospective study is to examine the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress (perceived stress, depressive symptoms, pregnancy-related anxiety) and TL in childhood. Participants included 102 children (54 girls) and their mothers. Mothers' distress was assessed five times during pregnancy, at 12 weeks postpartum, and at the time of child telomere measurement between 6 and 16 years of age. Maternal distress during pregnancy predicted shorter offspring TL in childhood, even after accounting for postnatal exposure to maternal distress and other covariates. These findings indicate that maternal mental health predicts offspring TL biology later in childhood than previously observed. This study bolsters claims that telomere biology is subject to fetal programming and highlights the importance of supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura M Glynn
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Marco Bisoffi
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Catherine H Demers
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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81
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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] [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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82
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Furtado M, Frey BN, Green SM. Validation of the intolerance of uncertainty scale as a screening tool for perinatal anxiety. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:829. [PMID: 34903196 PMCID: PMC8670292 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04296-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To date, there is a significant lack of research validating clinical tools for early and accurate detection of anxiety disorders in perinatal populations. Intolerance of uncertainty was recently identified as a significant risk factor for postpartum anxiety symptoms and is a key trait of non-perinatal anxiety disorders. The present study aimed to validate the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) in a perinatal population and evaluate its use as a screening tool for anxiety disorders. Methods Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed in a sample of perinatal women (n = 198), in addition to completing a self-report battery of questionnaires. Psychometric properties including internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity were assessed. Determination of an optimal clinical cut-off score was measured through a ROC analysis in which the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results The IUS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.95) and an optimal clinical cut-off score of 64 or greater was established, yielding a sensitivity of 89%. The IUS also demonstrated very good positive (79%) and negative (80%) predictive values. Conclusions These findings suggest that the IUS represents a clinically useful screening tool to be used as an aid for the early and accurate detection of perinatal anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Furtado
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Ontario, Hamilton, L8S 4L8, Canada. .,Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada.
| | - Benicio N Frey
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Administration B3, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada.,Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Sheryl M Green
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Administration B3, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada
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83
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Demers CH, Bagonis MM, Al-Ali K, Garcia SE, Styner MA, Gilmore JH, Hoffman MC, Hankin BL, Davis EP. Exposure to prenatal maternal distress and infant white matter neurodevelopment. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 33:1526-1538. [PMID: 35586027 PMCID: PMC9109943 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The prenatal period represents a critical time for brain growth and development. These rapid neurological advances render the fetus susceptible to various influences with life-long implications for mental health. Maternal distress signals are a dominant early life influence, contributing to birth outcomes and risk for offspring psychopathology. This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the association between prenatal maternal distress and infant white matter microstructure. Participants included a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of 85 mother-infant dyads. Prenatal distress was assessed at 17 and 29 weeks' gestational age (GA). Infant structural data were collected via diffusion tensor imaging at 42-45 weeks' postconceptional age. Findings demonstrated that higher prenatal maternal distress at 29 weeks' GA was associated with increased fractional anisotropy (b = .283, t(64) = 2.319, p = .024) and with increased axial diffusivity (b = .254, t(64) = 2.067, p = .043) within the right anterior cingulate white matter tract. No other significant associations were found with prenatal distress exposure and tract fractional anisotropy or axial diffusivity at 29 weeks' GA, nor earlier in gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine H. Demers
- Department of Psychology University of Denver, Denver CO,
USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz
Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
| | - Maria M. Bagonis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Khalid Al-Ali
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Sarah E. Garcia
- Department of Psychology University of Denver, Denver CO,
USA
| | - Martin A. Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - M. Camille Hoffman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz
Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of
Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine,
Aurora, Colorado, 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 Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of
California, Irvine, CA, USA
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84
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Yang JH, Strodl E, Wu CA, Yin XN, Wen GM, Sun DL, Xian DX, Chen JY, Chen YJ, Chen J, Chen WQ. Association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure in early life and autistic-like behaviors in Chinese preschoolers. J Psychosom Res 2021; 152:110680. [PMID: 34826656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Few studies have evaluated the association between children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in early life (during pregnancy, from birth to one year and from one to three years) and autistic-like behaviors. This study aimed to explore this association. METHODS This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected in 2017 as part of the Longhua Child Cohort Study. Autistic-like behaviors were measured using the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Data on ETS exposure and autistic-like behaviors of children were collected via self-administered questionnaires completed by the mothers. Multivariate logistic regression models were undertaken to assess the associations. RESULTS Of the 65,243 participants included in this study, 1958 children met criteria for having autistic-like behaviors. The results showed that children were more likely to exhibit autistic-like behaviors when they were exposed to ETS in early life (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.26-1.52), compared to preschoolers without ETS exposure at any period of their early life. Compared with their unexposed counterparts, children who were exposed to ETS during gestation (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.29-1.57), or from birth to one year old (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.19-1.69) had significantly increased risk of autistic-like behaviors. In addition, with the increase in duration of exposure and average number of cigarettes smoked in the child's immediate environment, the risk of autistic-like behaviors increased. CONCLUSION Our study indicated that children's ETS exposure in early life was significantly associated with autistic-like behaviors. When children's exposure to cigarettes in early life increased in duration and number, the likelihood of the presence of autistic-like behaviors was higher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hui Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Esben Strodl
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Chuan-An Wu
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-Na Yin
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guo-Min Wen
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Deng-Li Sun
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dan-Xia Xian
- Women's and Children's Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing-Yi Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Jie Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Qing Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; School of Health, Xinhua College of Guangzhou, China.
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85
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Kolk TA, Nath S, Howard LM, Pawlby S, Lockwood-Estrin G, Trevillion K. The association between maternal lifetime interpersonal trauma experience and perceived mother-infant bonding. J Affect Disord 2021; 294:117-127. [PMID: 34280788 PMCID: PMC8424749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interpersonal traumas are common among expectant and new mothers and are found to have considerable impacts on women's mental health. These experiences may disrupt maternal perceptions of the mother-infant relationship, which is essential for healthy infant development, but findings are inconsistent. This study aims to explore associations between lifetime interpersonal traumas and their impact on self-reported mother-infant bonding. METHODS Secondary data analysis of a representative cohort of 453 women attending at a South London maternity service. Lifetime interpersonal trauma experience and its association with self-reported mother-infant bonding (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire) was assessed in uni- and multivariable linear regressions, the latter adjusted to account for antenatal depressive and posttraumatic symptoms, measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale, and key sociodemographic risk factors. RESULTS Maternal lifetime trauma was not associated with perceived difficulties in mother-infant bonding at three months postnatal; however antenatal depressive symptoms, both with continuous EPDS score (0.33, 95% CI 0.17-0.50, p<0.001) and clinical cut-off ≥13 (4.26, 95% CI 2.02-6.49, p<0.001) were associated with self-reported bonding difficulties. LIMITATIONS The composite trauma measurement did not allow for a comprehensive assessment of individual trauma types. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence for a link between maternal lifetime trauma experiences and self-reported bonding difficulties. However, an association between antenatal depressive symptoms and perceived postpartum bonding impairment was found. This highlights the importance of identification and treatment of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and offering women support in facilitating a positive mother-infant relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessel Annejo Kolk
- Section of Women's Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK..
| | - Selina Nath
- Section of Women's Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Louise Michele Howard
- Section of Women's Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Susan Pawlby
- Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Georgia Lockwood-Estrin
- Henry Wellcome Building, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, 32 Torrington Square, London WC1E 7JL, UK
| | - Kylee Trevillion
- Section of Women's Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
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86
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Allen MC, Moog NK, Buss C, Yen E, Gustafsson HC, Sullivan EL, Graham AM. Co-occurrence of preconception maternal childhood adversity and opioid use during pregnancy: Implications for offspring brain development. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 88:107033. [PMID: 34601061 PMCID: PMC8578395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding of the effects of in utero opioid exposure on neurodevelopment is a priority given the recent dramatic increase in opioid use among pregnant individuals. However, opioid abuse does not occur in isolation-pregnant individuals abusing opioids often have a significant history of adverse experiences in childhood, among other co-occurring factors. Understanding the specific pathways in which these frequently co-occurring factors may interact and cumulatively influence offspring brain development in utero represents a priority for future research in this area. We highlight maternal history of childhood adversity (CA) as one such co-occurring factor that is more prevalent among individuals using opioids during pregnancy and which is increasingly shown to affect offspring neurodevelopment through mechanisms beginning in utero. Despite the high incidence of CA history in pregnant individuals using opioids, we understand very little about the effects of comorbid prenatal opioid exposure and maternal CA history on fetal brain development. Here, we first provide an overview of current knowledge regarding effects of opioid exposure and maternal CA on offspring neurodevelopment that may occur during gestation. We then outline potential mechanistic pathways through which these factors might have interactive and cumulative influences on offspring neurodevelopment as a foundation for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine C Allen
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Nora K Moog
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Luisenstrasse 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Buss
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Luisenstrasse 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, 837 Health Sciences Drive, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Elizabeth Yen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, United States
| | - Hanna C Gustafsson
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185(th) Ave., Beaverton, OR 97006, United States; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Alice M Graham
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States.
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87
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Hernández-González M, Maldonado R, Hernández-Arteaga E, Guevara MA. Prenatally stress-exposed male rats present lower theta prefrontal activity during attention behaviors to receptive females. Stress 2021; 24:978-986. [PMID: 34525897 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2021.1976140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress affects brain functionality and sexual behavior. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) participates in the integration and processing of sexual stimuli. Electroencephalographic (EEG) theta activity has been associated with attention as well as rewarding and sexually motivated states. Considering that the induction of sexual motivation requires attention to, and the adequate processing of, sexual stimuli, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to stress during the prenatal period on EEG activity in the mPFC during nose pokes in adulthood, actions which are indicators of attention to a receptive female. Eighteen sexually experienced male rats were used, nine stressed prenatally by immobilization during days 14-21 of gestation (stress-exposed group). The other nine formed the control group. All rats were implanted bilaterally in the mPFC (specifically in prelimbic areas) and were allowed one intromission with a receptive female to induce a sexually motivated state before the experimental session. During this session, both nose pokes and non-contact erections in the male rats were evaluated in the presence of an inaccessible receptive female. EEGs were recorded only during nose pokes. The stress-exposed group presented lower nose poke duration, fewer non-contact erections, and lower relative power of the theta band (4-7 Hz) in both prefrontal areas. Considering that the prevalence of this band is associated with attention and motivational processes, these data confirm the deleterious effect of prenatal stress on attention and sexual activation to sexually relevant stimuli in male rats during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo Maldonado
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
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88
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The contribution of racism-related stress and adversity to disparities in birth outcomes: evidence and research recommendations. F S Rep 2021; 3:5-13. [PMID: 35937456 PMCID: PMC9349247 DOI: 10.1016/j.xfre.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, racial and ethnic differences in adverse birth outcomes and infant mortality are some of the largest and most persistent health disparities in the United States. This narrative review article synthesizes existing literature to present a conceptual model of how racism-related stress and adversity are critical determinants of such disparities. We describe how historical and ongoing racism has created conditions wherein women of color are disproportionately exposed to chronic, multilayered stress and adversity and how the biological consequences of exposure to these stressors confers risk for adverse birth outcomes. Next, we identify important priorities and considerations for future research, including the heterogeneity of racism-related stressors, biomarkers and mechanisms, chronicity and sensitive periods of exposure, developmental programming of lifespan health, resilience, and community-engaged research methodologies. Historical and ongoing racism has created conditions wherein women of color are disproportionately exposed to stress and adversity. The consequences of exposure to racism-related stress and adversity can confer risk for health conditions implicated in adverse birth outcomes and alter maternal physiology associated with fetal development and timing of parturition. Conjointly studying racism-related stress, biologic profiles, and birth outcomes is a priority for future research. It is important to identify factors that mitigate the impact of racism-related stress and adversity on birth outcomes.
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89
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Braren SH, Perry RE, Ribner A, Brandes-Aitken A, Brito N, Blair C. Prenatal mother-father cortisol linkage predicts infant executive functions at 24 months. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22151. [PMID: 34674244 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated associations between prenatal mother-father cortisol linkage and infant executive functions. Data come from an international sample (N = 358) of predominantly white and middle- to upper-class first-time parents. During late pregnancy, parents collected diurnal salivary cortisol samples and reported on levels of psychological stress. At 24 months, children completed a battery of executive function tasks. Parent cortisol linkage was operationalized as the time-dependent, within-dyad association between maternal and paternal diurnal cortisol. Results indicated that prenatal linkage was positively related to infant executive functions, suggesting that stronger mother-father cortisol linkage was associated with higher executive function scores. Additionally, this relation was moderated by paternal average cortisol levels such that executive function scores were lower when fathers had higher average cortisol levels and linkage was weak. This association suggests that elevated paternal cortisol amplifies the negative relation between lower cortisol linkage and lower infant executive function scores. Importantly, these findings were observed while controlling for observational measures of caregiving and self-report measures of psychosocial functioning and infant social-emotional behavior. These results suggest that prenatal linkage of mother's and father's stress physiology plays a potentially important part in programming and regulating infant neurocognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrew Ribner
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, USA
| | | | - Natalie Brito
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, USA
| | - Clancy Blair
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, USA
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- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, USA.,Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, UK.,Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
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90
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Ho TC, King LS. Mechanisms of neuroplasticity linking early adversity to depression: developmental considerations. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:517. [PMID: 34628465 PMCID: PMC8501358 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01639-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early exposure to psychosocial adversity is among the most potent predictors of depression. Because depression commonly emerges prior to adulthood, we must consider the fundamental principles of developmental neuroscience when examining how experiences of childhood adversity, including abuse and neglect, can lead to depression. Considering that both the environment and the brain are highly dynamic across the period spanning gestation through adolescence, the purpose of this review is to discuss and integrate stress-based models of depression that center developmental processes. We offer a general framework for understanding how psychosocial adversity in early life disrupts or calibrates the biobehavioral systems implicated in depression. Specifically, we propose that the sources and nature of the environmental input shaping the brain, and the mechanisms of neuroplasticity involved, change across development. We contend that the effects of adversity largely depend on the developmental stage of the organism. First, we summarize leading neurobiological models that focus on the effects of adversity on risk for mental disorders, including depression. In particular, we highlight models of allostatic load, acceleration maturation, dimensions of adversity, and sensitive or critical periods. Second, we expound on and review evidence for the formulation that distinct mechanisms of neuroplasticity are implicated depending on the timing of adverse experiences, and that inherent within certain windows of development are constraints on the sources and nature of these experiences. Finally, we consider other important facets of adverse experiences (e.g., environmental unpredictability, perceptions of one's experiences) before discussing promising research directions for the future of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany C Ho
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Lucy S King
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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91
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Hunter SK, Freedman R, Law AJ, Christians U, Holzman JB, Johnson Z, Hoffman MC. Maternal corticosteroids and depression during gestation and decreased fetal heart rate variability. Neuroreport 2021; 32:1170-1174. [PMID: 34284445 PMCID: PMC9762166 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal depression during gestation is an adverse factor in fetal brain development that manifests in later childhood behavioral problems. Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) mediated by parasympathetic input is a marker of gestational nervous system development. Biological mediators of adverse effects of maternal depression may involve the mother's corticosteroids; however, links between depression, corticosteroids, and early nervous system development remain inconclusive. METHODS Heart rate was recorded in 23 fetuses by transabdominal Doppler at 28-33 weeks gestation. The SD of interbeat intervals over 20 min assessed FHRV. Maternal depression ratings and hair concentrations of cortisol and cortisone were assayed. An auditory sensory gating paradigm assessed newborn development of cerebral inhibition. Parents rated their infant's temperament characteristics on the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Short Form (IBQ-R). RESULTS Maternal depression was associated with lower FHRV, especially for male fetuses, β = -0.633, P = 0.045. Maternal depression was associated with lower cortisol to total corticosteroids ratios, β = -0.519, P = 0.033. Lower cortisol ratios were associated with decreased FHRV, β = 0.485, P = 0.019. Decreased FHRV was associated with increased newborn sensory gating deficits, β = -0.992, P = 0.035, indicating poorer development of cerebral inhibition. Higher FHRV was related to increased infant IBQ-R self-regulatory behaviors, r = 0.454, P = 0.029. CONCLUSION Maternal depression is associated via corticosteroids with decreased development of nervous system control of fetal heart rate. Decreased FHRV indicates developmental alterations in gestation that correlate with altered brain function and subsequent regulatory challenges in early infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon K. Hunter
- Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Robert Freedman
- Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda J. Law
- Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Uwe Christians
- Department of Anesthesiology, iC42 Clinical Research and Development, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jacob B.W. Holzman
- Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Pediatric Mental Health Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Zachary Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - M. Camille Hoffman
- Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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92
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Prenatal maternal mental health symptoms predict infant leptin at birth. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 16:100317. [PMID: 34589807 PMCID: PMC8474689 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood obesity can be predicted by metabolic signaling at birth. Understanding what exposure factors, such as prenatal mental health, predict metabolic signaling at birth are important for understanding the etiology of childhood metabolic dysregulation. Drawing on data from the Born in Bradford (BiB) multi-ethnic birth cohort in the United Kingdom (N = 2962 dyads), this study examined associations between maternal prenatal mental health symptoms and infant leptin and adiponectin. We tested whether total maternal prenatal symptoms as well as specific symptom subscales forecasted infant cord blood levels of leptin and adiponectin. We found that higher total maternal mental health symptoms and somatic symptoms, specifically, predicted lower infant cord blood leptin. We did not find evidence that maternal prenatal mental health symptoms predicted adiponectin. Together, our findings suggest that maternal mental health symptoms may become biologically embedded through infant metabolic changes via leptin. Maternal prenatal mental health symptoms predict infant cord blood leptin at birth. Somatic maternal prenatal mental health symptoms predict infant cord blood leptin at birth. Maternal prenatal mental health symptoms do not predict infant cord blood adiponectin at birth. Maternal prenatal mental health may become biologically embedded in infants via leptin.
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93
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Zhou Q, Tian Y, Xu C, Wang J, Jin Y. Prenatal and postnatal traffic pollution exposure, DNA methylation in Shank3 and MeCP2 promoter regions, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 and sociability in rats' offspring. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:180. [PMID: 34565458 PMCID: PMC8474908 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01170-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Road traffic air pollution is linked with an increased risk of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study is to assess the effect of exposure to prenatal or postnatal traffic-related air pollution combining concomitant noise pollution on ASD-related epigenetic and behavioral alternations on offspring. Methods A 2 × 2 factorial analysis experiment was designed. Wistar rats were exposed at different sites (L group: green space; H group: crossroads) and timings (E group: full gestation; P group: 21 days after birth) at the same time, and air pollutants of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM2.5) were meanwhile sampled. On postnatal day 25, brains from offspring of each group were extracted to determine the levels of DNA methylation in Shank3 (three parts: Shank3_01, Shank3_02, Shank3_03) and MeCP2 (two parts: MeCP2_01, MeCP2_02) promoter regions, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 after three-chamber social test. Meanwhile, the Shank3 and MeCP2 levels were quantified. Results The concentrations of PM2.5 (L: 58.33 µg/m3; H: 88.33 µg/m3, P < 0.05) and NO2 (L: 52.76 µg/m3; H: 146.03 µg/m3, P < 0.01) as well as the intensity of noise pollution (L: 44.4 dB (A); H: 70.1 dB (A), P < 0.001) differed significantly from 18:00 to 19:00 between experimental sites. Traffic pollution exposure (P = 0.006) and neonatal exposure (P = 0.001) led to lower weight of male pups on PND25. Male rats under early-life exposure had increased levels of Shank3 (Shank3_02: timing P < 0.001; site P < 0.05, Shank3_03: timing P < 0.001) and MeCP2 (MeCP2_01: timing P < 0.001, MeCP2_02: timing P < 0.001) methylation and H3K4me3 (EL: 11.94 µg/mg; EH: 11.98; PL: 17.14; PH: 14.78, timing P < 0.05), and reduced levels of H3K27me3 (EL: 71.07 µg/mg; EH: 44.76; PL: 29.15; PH: 28.67, timing P < 0.001; site P < 0.05) in brain compared to those under prenatal exposure. There was, for female pups, a same pattern of Shank3 (Shank3_02: timing P < 0.001; site P < 0.05, Shank3_03: timing P < 0.001) and MeCP2 (MeCP2_01: timing P < 0.05, MeCP2_02: timing P < 0.001) methylation and H3K4me3 (EL: 11.27 µg/mg; EH: 11.55; PL: 16.11; PH: 15.44, timing P < 0.001), but the levels of H3K27me3 exhibited an inverse trend concerning exposure timing. Hypermethylation at the MeCP2 and Shank3 promoter was correlated with the less content of MeCP2 (female: EL: 32.23 ng/mg; EH: 29.58; PL: 25.01; PH: 23.03, timing P < 0.001; site P < 0.05; male: EL: 31.05 ng/mg; EH: 32.75; PL: 23.40; PH: 25.91, timing P < 0.001) and Shank3 (female: EL: 5.10 ng/mg; EH: 5.31; PL: 4.63; PH: 4.82, timing P < 0.001; male: EL: 5.40 ng/mg; EH: 5.48; PL: 4.82; PH: 4.87, timing P < 0.001). Rats with traffic pollution exposure showed aberrant sociability preference and social novelty, while those without it behaved normally. Conclusions Our findings suggest early life under environmental risks is a crucial window for epigenetic perturbations and then abnormalities in protein expression, and traffic pollution impairs behaviors either during pregnancy or after birth. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01170-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinfeng Zhou
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Tian
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenlu Xu
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Juling Wang
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongtang Jin
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China. .,Department of General Practice, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
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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] [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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Kishan A, Moodithaya SS, Shetty PK, U. SB. Evaluation of role of maternal antenatal cardiac autonomic and biochemical stress markers in prediction of psychological stress levels during postpartum period. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02175-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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96
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The role of maternal nutrition during pregnancy in the intergenerational transmission of childhood adversity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 130:105283. [PMID: 34082275 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of a woman can lead to dysregulated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy, which can in turn adversely affect her offspring HPA axis function. Choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are dietary factors with the potential to favorably modify the stress response system. The current study aimed to investigate whether maternal choline intake and DHA status moderate the effects of maternal ACEs exposure on maternal and infant HPA axes function. Participants were a sub-sample of the prospective longitudinal Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study consisting of 340 mothers and 238 infants. We collected data on maternal ACEs, maternal choline intake (24-hour dietary recall) and serum phospholipid DHA concentrations (at each trimester). Women self-collected saliva samples on two consecutive days (at waking, +30 min, 1100 h, and 2100 h) in each trimester to calculate the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and total daytime cortisol. Infants' salivary cortisol was measured before and after (20, and 40 min) exposure to a blood draw stressor 3 months postpartum. During pregnancy, choline intake moderated (reduced) the association between maternal ACEs and CAR (β = -0.003; 95% CI -0.006, -0.003), but not total daytime cortisol. DHA status did not moderate the association between ACEs and CAR or total daytime cortisol. Choline intake also moderated (reduced) the association between maternal CAR and infant cortisol during a stress task (β = -0.0001; 95% CI -0.0002, -0.00003). Maternal DHA status revealed no modifying effects on these associations. Our findings suggest that maternal choline intake, but not DHA status, can buffer the associations between ACEs and maternal HPA axis, as well as maternal and infant HPA axes function.
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97
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Maternal caregiving ameliorates the consequences of prenatal maternal psychological distress on child development. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 34:1376-1385. [PMID: 34311804 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [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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98
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Association between fetoplacental Doppler results, placental pathology, and angiogenic factors among pregnant women with anxiety. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2021; 59:842-847. [PMID: 33218399 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate whether state and trait anxiety among pregnant women were associated with fetoplacental Doppler findings, abnormal placental pathology, and placental angiogenic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 102 pregnant women at 32-35 gestational weeks were recruited and examined prospectively. State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Using Doppler ultrasound, pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and uterine artery (UtA) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) were determined. Doppler parameters were converted into multiples of the median (MoM). Abnormal placental pathology was classified into 2 groups: vascular underperfusion (VU) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine placental cells staining positive for placental growth factor (PLGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1-α (HIF-1α), which are markers for angiogenesis and hypoxic status, respectively. RESULTS Women with high state anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM and CPR MoM, while those with high trait anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM. VU was associated with a higher incidence of high trait anxiety scores, and HCA was associated with a higher incidence of high state and trait anxiety scores. Regression analysis showed a relationship between maternal state anxiety on MCA-PI MoM and HCA after controlling for covariates. Maternal trait anxiety exhibited relationships with VU and HCA after adjustment. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that maternal anxiety is associated with altered fetal cerebral blood flow and abnormal placental pathology but is not associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and placental angiogenic factors.
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Kozak K, Greaves A, Waldfogel J, Angal J, Elliott AJ, Fifier WP, Brito NH. Paid maternal leave is associated with better language and socioemotional outcomes during toddlerhood. INFANCY 2021; 26:536-550. [PMID: 33755325 PMCID: PMC8684353 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The United States is the only high-income country that does not have a national policy mandating paid leave to working women who give birth. Increased rates of maternal employment post-birth call for greater understanding of the effects of family leave on infant development. This study examined the links between paid leave and toddler language, cognitive, and socioemotional outcomes (24-36 months; N = 328). Results indicate that paid leave was associated with better language outcomes, regardless of socioeconomic status. Additionally, paid leave was correlated with fewer infant behavior problems for mothers with lower levels of educational attainment. Expanding access to policies that support families in need, like paid family leave, may aid in reducing socioeconomic disparities in infant development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Kozak
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashley Greaves
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jane Waldfogel
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jyoti Angal
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Amy J. Elliott
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - William P. Fifier
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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100
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Chen S, Chen S. Are prenatal anxiety or depression symptoms associated with asthma or atopic diseases throughout the offspring's childhood? An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:435. [PMID: 34158009 PMCID: PMC8218439 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03909-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Asthma is the most common respiratory disease among children, while atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis affect about 20% of infants under 2 years of age. Studies suggested that these conditions might be related to prenatal depression or anxiety. This study aimed to explore the association between prenatal mental disorders and childhood asthma or atopic disease in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2020. The primary outcome was childhood asthma and childhood atopic dermatitis. Random-effects models were used because of high heterogeneity indicated by I2 > 50% and Q-test P < 0.10. Results A total of 598 studies were initially identified, but nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Prenatal mental disorder was associated with childhood asthma (n = 6 studies; ES = 1.146, 95%CI: 1.054–1.245, P = 0.001; I2 = 93.5%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001) whereas no significant association was found for childhood atopic dermatitis (n = 4 studies; ES = 1.211, 95%CI: 0.982–1.494, P = 0.073; I2 = 78.5%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001). Childhood asthma seems to be related more to depression (n = 1 study; ES = 1.170, 95%CI: 1.061–1.291, P = 0.002) and anxiety/depression (n = 4 studies; ES = 1.157, 95%CI: 1.050–1.275, P = 0.073; I2 = 95.3%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001). Conclusion This meta-analysis demonstrated that prenatal mental disorders increase the risk of childhood asthma. We limited the included samples to pregnant women to investigate the association between prenatal psychological factors and offspring’s physical health. Future studies should include large high-quality cohort studies to investigate the behavioral, environmental, and genetic causes for this association. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-021-03909-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuguang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military M, edical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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