An epigenetic pathway approach to investigating associations between prenatal exposure to maternal mood disorder and newborn neurobehavior

Conradt, Elisabeth; Adkins, Daniel E.; Crowell, Sheila E.; Monk, Catherine; Kobor, Michæl S.

doi:10.1017/s0954579418000688

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Studies examining prenatal hair cortisol concentrations as predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes in infancy are limited. It is possible that prenatal programming influences could shape newborn neurodevelopmental outcomes via increased cortisol exposure (Conradt, Adkins, Crowell, Monk, & Kobor, ; O'Donnell, O'Connor, & Glover, ). For example, prenatal exposure to maternal salivary cortisol at 30–32 weeks gestation was related to greater newborn negative reactivity (Davis et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations are related to maternal prenatal emotion dysregulation but not neurodevelopmental or birth outcomes

Conradt

Shakiba

Ostlund

et al. 2020

Developmental Psychobiology

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Hair cortisol concentrations measured during pregnancy have emerged as a novel biomarker for prenatal stress exposure. However, associations between prenatal stress and distress, broadly defined, and hair cortisol concentrations during pregnancy are inconsistent. We examined relations among hair cortisol concentrations during the third trimester with (a) emotion dysregulation and (b) detailed measures of maternal prenatal stress. We also examined the predictive validity of maternal hair cortisol during pregnancy for adverse newborn health outcomes. Cortisol concentrations were derived from 6 cm of hair during the third trimester of pregnancy. Mothers reported on their emotion dysregulation and stress at this time. A standardized newborn neurobehavioral exam was conducted shortly after birth and newborn birth weight and gestational age were assessed from medical records. All hypotheses were preregistered on the Open Science Framework (osf.io/279ng). High levels of emotion dysregulation, but not stress, were predictive of high hair cortisol concentrations. Maternal prenatal BMI mediated the relation between maternal prenatal emotion dysregulation and hair cortisol concentrations. There was no association between hair cortisol and infant birth outcomes. This research supports the notion that transdiagnostic markers of psychopathology are important correlates of hair cortisol concentrations during pregnancy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations are related to maternal prenatal emotion dysregulation but not neurodevelopmental or birth outcomes

Conradt

Shakiba

Ostlund

et al. 2020

Developmental Psychobiology

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“…Maternal depression may affect the developing neural systems, brain structures, and neuroendocrine systems and pathways such as hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis functioning (Conradt et al, 2018). The frequently Copyright American Psychological Association.…”

Section: Prenatal Exposure and Children's Neurodevelopmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental psychopathology and parenting.

Pine¹,

Garber²

2023

Treatment of Psychosocial Risk Factors in Depression.

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O ne of the most robust and reliable risk factors for the development of depression is having a family member with a history of the disorder (Beardslee et al., 2011;Goodman, 2020). Children of parents who have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder are 3 to 4 times as likely to develop depression and other psychopathology and to have greater academic and social impairment as compared with individuals whose parents have not had depression (Weissman et al., 2016;.An estimated 15 million children in the United States have a parent who has had one or more depressive episodes (England & Sim, 2009). Depression is significantly more common in individuals from lower income levels as compared with higher ones (Miranda & Green, 1999). Across races and ethnicities, about 10% to 12% of U.S. mothers experience a major depressive episode (MDE) per year, resulting in an estimated 10% of all children being exposed to maternal depression each year (Ertel et al., 2011). Estimates of the global prevalence of postpartum depression among women are as high as 17.7% (Hahn-Holbrook et al., 2018), with about 13% of women having a MDE during the first year after giving birth (O'Hara & Swain, 1996). Thus, depression in caretakers is common and can affect the health and well-being of their children.The prevalence of depression is more than 2 times greater in women than in men. Most research on the link between parental depression and children's adjustment has focused on mothers because of their higher rate of depression,

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“…Epigenetic modifications are molecular mechanisms that alter gene activity without changing the DNA sequence (Babenko et al, 2015). Prenatal exposure to maternal stress can alter gene expression in multiple tissues, including the fetal brain or the placenta, potentially obstructing normal functioning and development (Babenko et al, 2015; Conradt et al, 2018; Monk, Spicer, et al, 2012b). Epigenetic changes have appeared in children prenatally exposed to maternal anxiety (Cao-Lei et al, 2015, 2021; Hompes et al, 2013; Mulligan et al, 2012; Schroeder et al, 2012), supporting prenatal exposure to maternal anxiety as altering gene expression in the fetus.…”

Section: Mechanisms: How Does Prenatal Exposure To Maternal Stress Af...mentioning

confidence: 99%

From the Womb into the World: Protecting the Fetal Brain from Maternal Stress During Pregnancy

Heuvel

2022

Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences

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No other period in a child's life matches the speed of brain development than the first nine months in the womb. Rapid growth goes hand in hand with enormous potential, but also with great vulnerability. This policy-focused review focuses on maternal mental health as a key factor for fetal brain development. Already during pregnancy, the fetal brain wires differently when exposed to maternal stress, and children prenatally exposed to stress have a higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. Maternal prenatal stress is preventable, treatable, and tractable by policy. Research-based, policy recommends: (1) screening for maternal mental health issues throughout pregnancy, (2) encourage talking about prenatal mental health, (3) evidence-based interventions for pregnant women with mental health issues, (4) avoiding stress-inducing communication towards pregnant women, and (5) stimulating positive postnatal parenting. Investing in healthy pregnancies will improve fetal brain growth, and, ultimately lead to a healthier next generation.

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An epigenetic pathway approach to investigating associations between prenatal exposure to maternal mood disorder and newborn neurobehavior

Cited by 16 publications

References 70 publications

Prenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations are related to maternal prenatal emotion dysregulation but not neurodevelopmental or birth outcomes

Prenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations are related to maternal prenatal emotion dysregulation but not neurodevelopmental or birth outcomes

Parental psychopathology and parenting.

From the Womb into the World: Protecting the Fetal Brain from Maternal Stress During Pregnancy

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