title: [Epigenetic modifications in children associated with maternal emotional stress during pregnancy].
abstract: Besides typical physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy, this life period is often associated with an increased emotional and mental stress for women. For the child, the time in utero is regarded as a critical developmental period since adverse stimuli during pregnancy can have lasting consequences for the fetal and postnatal health and development. Thus, prenatal depression, anxiety and stress are considered as risk factors for developmental delay, emotional and behavioral problems. Epigenetic modifications, especially modifications in DNA methylation, are discussed as a possible biological mechanism that could explain the association between prenatal emotional stress and altered developmental and health outcomes of the child. This review summarizes evidence for DNA methylation changes related to prenatal emotional stress from studies with a candidate-gene approach as well as epigenome-wide association studies. Problematic issues are discussed and recommendations for future research are presented.
authors.affiliation: 1 Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.|2 Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: Valeska
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stonawski
authors.affiliation: 1 Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: 1 Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.|3 Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt a. M.
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Golub
authors.affiliation: 1 Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: Gunther H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.affiliation: 1 Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.|4 kbo-Heckscher-Klinikum, München.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.affiliation: 1 Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eichler
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003423:Critical Period, Psychological; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: DNA methylation; Epigenetics; depression; pregnancy; stress