Untreated depression during pregnancy: Short- and long-term effects in offspring. A systematic review.
Aim of this systematic review is to assess short- and long-lasting effects of antenatal exposure to untreated maternal depressive symptoms. Pertinent articles were identified through combined searches of Science.gov, Cochrane library, and PubMed databases (through August 2015). Forty-three, selected articles revealed that untreated gestational depression and even depressive symptoms during pregnancy may have untoward effects on the developing fetus (hyperactivity, irregular fetal heart rate), newborns (increased cortisol and norepinephrine levels, decreased dopamine levels, altered EEG patterns, reduced vagal tone, stress/depressive-like behaviors, and increased rates of premature deaths and neonatal intensive care unit admission), and children (increased salivary cortisol levels, internalizing and externalizing problems, and central adiposity). During adolescence, an independent association exists between maternal antenatal mood symptoms and a slight increase in criminal behaviors. In contrast, the relationship between gestational depression and increased risks of prematurity and low birth weight remains controversial. Given this background, when making clinical decisions, clinicians should weigh the growing evidences suggesting the detrimental and prolonged effects in offspring of untreated antenatal depression and depressive symptoms during pregnancy against the known and emerging concerns associated with in utero exposure to antidepressants.
Department of Mental Health ASL Salerno, Mental Health Centre n. 63, Piazza Galdi, 1 84013 Cava de' Tirreni (Salerno), Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry Unit, Division of Perinatal Psychiatry, University of Naples, Medical School "Federico II", Via Sergio Pansini, 5 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: salvatore_gentile@alice.it.
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D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology
child outcomes; pregnancy; prenatal depression