The roots of paternal depression: Experienced and nonexperienced trauma or Folie a Deux?

Abstract

The transition to fatherhood may be challenged with anxiety and trepidation. A high prevalence has been found for paternal depression and it is reactive to maternal depression. This review aims to address potential sources of paternal depression, which may have adverse consequences on child development. We describe through three hypotheses how fathers may be at risk of depression during the transition to fatherhood: (1) psychological (interacting with ecological systems); (2) brain func-tional∖structural changes; and (3) (epi)genomic. We propose that paternal stressful experiences during the transition to fatherhood may be the source for paternal depression through direct stressful paternal experiences or via (potential, currently debated) nonexperienced (by the father) epigenomic transgenerational transmission.On the other hand, we suggest that resilient fathers may undergo a transient dysphoric period affected by identifying with the newborn's vulnerability as well as with the mother's postpartum vulnerability resulting in "paternity blues." In accordance with recent views on paternal "heightened sensitivity" toward the infant, we propose that the identification of both parents with the vulnerability of the newborn creates a sensitive period of Folie a Deux (shared madness) which may be a healthy transient, albeit a quasi-pathological period, recruited by the orienting response of the newborn for survival.

Maternity Blues: A Narrative Review

“…Future research should not be limited to consolidating what has already been highlighted, but it will have to go further by exploring new fields that could bring new knowledge to better understand this complex condition. In this scenario, the role of the father and the risk of “paternity blues”—a transient dysphoric period affected by identifying with the newborn’s vulnerability as well as with the mother’s postpartum vulnerability—which could lead to a shared madness with the mother, could represent an intriguing new aspect to investigate of MB [ 90 ].…”

Fathers, families, and physiology: Exploring the psychobiological context of fathering

“…These patterns are broadly consistent with past work in animal models and represent one of the first studies to find this father-offspring effect in humans. In a review and conceptual article, Ferber et al (2021) also point to such cross-generational epigenetic effects as one possible pathway that may increase risks for paternal depression (i.e., sons' epigenetic inheritance may increase their later risks). They also review psychological and neural explanations for the risks of paternal depression around the parenting transition.…”