title: Maternal anxiety disorders predict excessive infant crying: a prospective longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively examine relations between maternal DSM-IV-TR anxiety and depressive disorders and excessive infant crying.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the prospective longitudinal Maternal Anxiety in Relation to Infant Development Study, n=306 expectant mothers were enrolled during early pregnancy and repeatedly interviewed until 16 months post partum. Lifetime and prospective information on maternal anxiety and depressive disorders was assessed via standardised diagnostic interviews (Composite International Diagnostic Interview for Women). Excessive crying (crying for ≥3 h per day on ≥3 days per week for ≥3 weeks) was assessed via Baby-DIPS. During the first 16 months after delivery, n=286 mother-infant dyads were available and included in the analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excessive crying was reported by n=29 mothers (10.1%). Infants of mothers with anxiety disorders prior to pregnancy were at higher risk for excessive crying than infants of mothers without any anxiety disorder prior to pregnancy (OR=2.54, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.78, p=0.027). Risk was even increased when considering additionally incident anxiety disorders until delivery (OR=3.02, 95% CI 1.25 to 7.32, p=0.014) and until 16 months post partum (OR=2.87, 95% CI 1.13 to 7.28, p=0.027). Associations remained stable when adjusting for sociodemographic and perinatal covariates. Maternal depressive disorders prior to pregnancy were not significantly associated with excessive crying in this sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal lifetime and incident anxiety disorders revealed to be a robust predictor for excessive crying. Thus, early identification and monitoring of women with anxiety disorders is important to identify mother-infant dyads at risk for excessive crying.
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Petzoldt
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Hans-Ulrich
authors: HU
authors: Wittchen
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Wittich
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Einsle
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Höfler
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Martini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: Excessive Crying; Infant Crying Spells; Maternal Anxiety Disorder; Maternal Depressive Disorder; Prospective-Longitudinal