title: Cognitive and language performance in children is associated with maternal social anxiety disorder: A study of young mothers in southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been shown that maternal mental health is associated with poorer skills development in the offspring. However, the evidence evaluating the association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and cognitive or language development, is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between maternal SAD and performance in cognitive and language tests in 30-month old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cohort study involving young women evaluated since pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 520 mother-child dyads who received prenatal medical assistance through the National Public Health System in a southern Brazilian city, from October 2009 to March 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (MINI Plus) to assess SAD among young mothers. Cognitive and language performance in their offspring was analyzed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - 3rd Edition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an association between maternal SAD and performance in cognitive and language tests. Children of mothers with SAD had in average 4.5 less points in the Bayley scale, when compared to those with mothers without SAD: in the cognitive (β=-4.53 [95% CI -7.8; -1.1] p=0.008) and language subscales (β=-4.54 [95% CI -9.0; -0.5] p=0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that children with mothers suffering from SAD have poorer cognitive abilities and language skills.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rochele Dias
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana de Ávila
authors.initials: Lde Á
authors.lastname: Quevedo
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Monteiro da Cunha
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariane Acosta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Azevedo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Müller
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Dias de Mattos
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Bonati
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: de Matos
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karen Amaral Tavares
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: ricardop@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Ricardo Tavares
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007804:Language Development; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010698:Phobic Disorders; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child development; Cognitive performance; Language performance; Social Anxiety Disorder