title: The maternal adversity, vulnerability and neurodevelopment project: theory and methodology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the theory and methodology of the multi-wave, prospective Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) study. The goal of MAVAN is to examine the pre- and postnatal influences, and their interaction, in determining individual differences in mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  MAVAN is a community-based, birth cohort study of pregnant Canadian mothers and their offspring. Dyads are assessed longitudinally, with multiple assessments of both mother and child in home and laboratory across the child's development. Study measures, including assessments of cognitive and emotional function, are described. The study uses a candidate gene approach to examine gene-environment interdependence in specific developmental outcomes. Finally, the study includes measures of both brain-based phenotypes and metabolism to explore comorbidities associated with child obesity. One of the unique features of the MAVAN protocol is the extensive measures of the mother-child interaction. The relation between these measures will be discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence from the MAVAN project shows interesting results about maternal care, families, and child outcomes. In our review, preliminary analyses showing the correlations between measures of maternal care are reported. As predicted, early evidence suggests that maternal care measures are positively correlated, over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review provides evidence for the feasibility and value of laboratory-based measures embedded within a longitudinal birth cohort study. Though retention of the samples has been a challenge of MAVAN, they are within a comparable range to other studies of this nature. Indeed, the trade-off of somewhat greater participant burden has allowed for a rich database. The results yielded from the MAVAN project will not only describe typical development but also possible targets for intervention. Understanding certain endophenotypes will shed light on the pathogenesis of various mental and physical disorders, as well as their interrelation.
authors.affiliation: Student, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Study Coordinator, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gaudreau
authors.affiliation: Student, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colalillo
authors.affiliation: Professor Emeritus, McMaster University; Founding Director, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario. Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: Professor, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: Professor [formerly], University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec; Researcher, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karama
authors.affiliation: Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lydon
authors.affiliation: Professor, Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, McGill University; Director, The Center for Child Development and Mental Health, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Ashley D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wazana
authors.affiliation: Professor, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario. Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Levitan
authors.affiliation: Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Marla B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sokolowski
authors.affiliation: Professor, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario. Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. Professor, Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. Associate Director, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec; Adjunct Senior Investigator, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Meaney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011599:Psychopathology