[The significance of psychosocial stress for pregnancy course and fetal development].
In a population-based study, 3021 women in a central Copenhagen district received a questionnaire on environmental and psychological factors during mid-gestation. Of these, 70 women were selected consecutively on the basis of moderate to severe stressful life-events (DSM-III-R categories 3 to 5), in combination with an inadequate social network. They were compared with 50 non-stressed women with an intact social network. Stress and smoking significantly affected birthweight and head circumference. When birthweight was corrected, stress remained a significant determinant of small head circumference, indicating a specific effect on brain development. Stress also led to a suboptimal Prechtl neonatal neurological score. These findings suggest the existence of a fetal stress syndrome with adverse effects on fetal development, including deficient brain development.
Hansen
D
D
Neonatalklinikken, og obstetrisk klinik, Staten Seruminstitut, Rigshospitalet,København.
Lou
H C
HC
Nordentoft
M
M
Pryds
O A
OA
Jensen
F R
FR
Nim
J
J
Hemmingsen
R P
RP
D001724:Birth Weight; D002508:Cephalometry; D003718:Denmark; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008016:Life Change Events; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Betydningen af psykosocialt stress for graviditetsforløb og fosterudvikling.