Depression in men in the postnatal period and later child psychopathology: a population cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
Postnatal depression in women is associated with adverse effects on both maternal health and children's development. It is unclear whether depression in men at this time poses comparable risks. The present study set out to assess the association between depression in men in the postnatal period and later psychiatric disorders in their children and to investigate predisposing factors for depression in men following childbirth.


METHODS
A population-based cohort of 10,975 fathers and their children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) was recruited in the prenatal period and followed for 7 years. Paternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and later child psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV) with the Development and Well-Being Assessment.


RESULTS
Depression in fathers in the postnatal period was significantly associated with psychiatric disorder in their children 7 years later (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.07-2.77), most notably oppositional defiant/conduct disorders (adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.04-3.61), after adjusting for maternal depression and paternal educational level. A history of severe depression and high prenatal symptom scores for depression and anxiety were the strongest predictors of paternal depression in the postnatal period.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression in fathers in the postnatal period is associated with later psychiatric disorders in their children, independently of maternal postnatal depression. Further research into the risks associated with paternal psychopathology is required because this could represent an important opportunity for public health intervention.
Ramchandani
Paul G
PG
Drs. Ramchandani and Stein are with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford; Dr. O'Connor is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Dr. Heron is with the Department of Social Medicine and Dr. Evans is with the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol; and Dr. Murray is with the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading.. Electronic address: paul.ramchandani@psych.ox.ac.uk.
Stein
Alan
A
Drs. Ramchandani and Stein are with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford; Dr. O'Connor is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Dr. Heron is with the Department of Social Medicine and Dr. Evans is with the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol; and Dr. Murray is with the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading.
O'Connor
Thomas G
TG
Drs. Ramchandani and Stein are with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford; Dr. O'Connor is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Dr. Heron is with the Department of Social Medicine and Dr. Evans is with the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol; and Dr. Murray is with the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading.
Heron
Jon
J
Drs. Ramchandani and Stein are with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford; Dr. O'Connor is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Dr. Heron is with the Department of Social Medicine and Dr. Evans is with the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol; and Dr. Murray is with the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading.
Murray
Lynne
L
Drs. Ramchandani and Stein are with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford; Dr. O'Connor is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Dr. Heron is with the Department of Social Medicine and Dr. Evans is with the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol; and Dr. Murray is with the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading.
Evans
Jonathan
J
Drs. Ramchandani and Stein are with the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford; Dr. O'Connor is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester; Dr. Heron is with the Department of Social Medicine and Dr. Evans is with the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol; and Dr. Murray is with the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading.
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013223:Statistics as Topic