Abstract
Objectives
Depression during pregnancy has a prevalence of about 10% in developed countries, and it is even higher in developing nations (~15%). A substantial number of studies have tried to understand its short- and long-term effects on the children these mothers carry. We aim to reunite the literature on the subject.
Methods
A search of the published literature using PubMed and Google Scholar was performed with the terms “maternal depression”, “prenatal depression” and “antenatal depression” and articles determined by the authors to focus on the aim of the presentation were included.
Results
In the short term, depression during pregnancy may be associated with sudden infant death syndrome (study results are inconsistent). Prenatal depression may also be associated with difficult temperament with excessive crying in the neonates and disturbed sleep until childhood. In the long term, the offspring of mothers with antenatal depression present a greater risk of delays in acquiring language skills, higher rates of depression (1.28 times more likely), anxiety, and aggressivity. Several studies also suggest an association with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. If prenatal depression is associated with an elevated risk of autism is still unclear. A recent study found an association of antenatal depression and psychotic experiences at 18 years old.
Conclusions
Antenatal depression has serious and long-lasting neuropsychiatric consequences in the offspring, hence the importance of its treatment, weighing the risks of antidepressive medication, with the clear and revised consequences of an untreated depressive episode.
