Depression during pregnancy may jeopardize childhood development

By Staff Writer

Pregnant women with depression who do not seek treatment from rehab facilities may risk serious development problems for their children, according to a new study from the University of Michigan.

The researchers found that children born to depressed mothers have higher levels of stress hormones. While the implications of this condition are not clear, the team said that it may increase the risk for mood and emotional disorders as well as developmental delays.

For the study, researchers examined a group of 154 pregnant women for the presence of depressive symptoms. Two weeks after the participants gave birth, investigators tested their stress hormone levels of their children. Offspring of women who showed signs of depression had significantly higher levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone.

While the researchers cautioned that the effects of elevated stress hormone levels on child development are not entirely clear yet, they recommended that any pregnant woman who feels that she may have depression seek therapy from a rehab facility. Interventions aimed at encouraging mother-child bonding may also help mitigate some of the expected consequences of depression.