Preconception origins of perinatal maternal mental health
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Authors
Kee, Michelle Z. L.
Ponmudi, Santhi
Phua, Desiree Y.
Rifkin-Graboi, Anne
Chong, Yap Seng
Tan, Kok Hian
Chan, Jerry Kok Yen
Broekman, Birit F.P.
Chen, Helen
Meaney, Michael J.
Issue Date
2021-01-23
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Preconception , Pregnancy , Maternal Mental Health , Depressive Symptoms , Anxiety Symptoms
Alternative Title
Abstract
Perinatal maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety compromise psychosocial function and influence developmental outcomes in the offspring. The onset of symptoms remains unclear with findings that suggest a preconceptual origin. We addressed this issue with a prospective analysis of anxiety and depressive symptom profiles from preconception through to parturition. Women were recruited into a preconception study to assess (a) variation in symptom levels of depression and anxiety from pre- to post-conception and (b) if the symptom network profiles of depression and anxiety change from pre-conception to post-conception. A within-subject intraclass correlation analyses revealed that symptoms of depression or anxiety in the preconception phase strongly predicted those across pregnancy and into the early postnatal period. The symptom network analysis revealed that the symptom profiles remained largely unchanged from preconception into the second trimester. Our findings suggest that for a significant portion of women, maternal mental health remains stable from preconception into pregnancy. This finding highlights the need for early intervention studies on women’s mental health to be targeted during the preconception period and to be extended across the population.
Description
Citation
Kee, M., Ponmudi, S., Phua, D. Y., Rifkin-Graboi, A., Chong, Y. S., Tan, K. H., Chan, J., Broekman, B., Chen, H., & Meaney, M. J. (2021). Preconception origins of perinatal maternal mental health. Archives of women's mental health, 24(4), 605–618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01096-y
Publisher
Archives of Women's Mental Health