title: Birth weight, stress, and symptoms of depression in adolescence: evidence of fetal programming in a national Canadian cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate evidence of fetal programming in humans by studying whether adolescents born at high or low birth weights (LBW) are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety after experiencing stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 3732 members of a prospective Canadian cohort study assessed for symptoms of depression and anxiety at age 12 to 15 years (2006/2007), and had birth weight and gestational age (GA) data recorded in 1994/1995. Major stressful life events and chronic stressors were also reported throughout childhood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for acute and chronic stress, being born small for GA (SGA) (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.08) or large (OR 1.31; 95% CI 0.99 to 1.72) for GA was associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety in adolescence, compared with adolescents who were born at a weight appropriate for their GA. Most interactions between birth weight and stress were not significant; however, the relation between chronic stress and adolescent depression and anxiety was more pronounced in males who were born SGA (interaction P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The link between birth weight and depression is complex and evidence of fetal programming is inconsistent; however, people born at LBW may be at an increased risk of depression in the face of chronic stress.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. icolman@uottawa.ca
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Colman
authors: Anushka
authors: A
authors: Ataullahjan
authors: Kiyuri
authors: K
authors: Naicker
authors: Ryan J
authors: RJ
authors: Van Lieshout
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors