title: Antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health as determinants of infant neurodevelopment at 18 months of age in a mother-child cohort (Rhea Study) in Crete, Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A growing body of evidence links poor maternal mental health with negative outcomes on early child development. We examined the effect of antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health on infant neurodevelopment at age 18 months in a population-based mother-child cohort (Rhea Study) in Crete, Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported measures of maternal depression (EPDS), trait anxiety (STAI-Trait) and personality traits (EPQ-R) were assessed in a sample of women during pregnancy and at 8 weeks postpartum (n = 223). An additional sample of 247 mothers also completed the EPDS scale at 8 weeks postpartum (n = 470). Neurodevelopment at 18 months was assessed with the use of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (3rd edition).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for confounders revealed that antenatal depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 13) were associated with decrease in cognitive development independently of postnatal depression. High trait anxiety and extraversion were associated with decrease and increase, respectively, in social-emotional development. Also, high trait anxiety and neuroticism had a positive effect on infants' expressive communication. Finally, postpartum depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 13) were associated with decrease in cognitive and fine motor development independently of antenatal depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that antenatal and postnatal maternal psychological well-being has important consequences on early child neurodevelopment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, Heraklion, 71003, Crete, Greece. koutra.k@gmail.com
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koutra
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chatzi
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagkeris
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vassilaki
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bitsios
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kogevinas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult