Effects of antenatal depression on early brain structure and neurobehavioral development of infants at 1 year of age

LIU Xiaoli; HUANG Bei; CHEN Yabin

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1340

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (6) : 603-607. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1340

Original Articles

Effects of antenatal depression on early brain structure and neurobehavioral development of infants at 1 year of age

LIU Xiaoli¹, HUANG Bei², CHEN Yabin²

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of antenatal depression (AD) in pregnant women on early brain development in offspring and neurobehavioral development at 1 year of age, in order to provide scientific basis for promoting maternal and child health. Methods A prospective study was conducted on 821 pregnant women who registered for early pregnancy care (gestational age <13 weeks) at the Obstetrics Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between January and December 2022.Among them,124 (15.1%) were diagnosed with AD in late pregnancy (≥28 weeks).After excluding 23 cases (18.5%) due to loss to follow-up or incomplete assessments,101 offspring of AD mothers were included in the AD group.Additionally,101 offspring of healthy pregnant women from the same period were randomly selected as the control group.Brain structure ultrasound measurements were taken within 24 - 48 hours after birth,and neurobehavioral development was assessed at 1 year of age. Results The AD group showed significantly lower measurements in corpus callosum length,cerebellar vermis height,and anteroposterior diameter of the cerebellar vermis compared to the control group (t=6.901,7.548,2.320,P<0.05).At 1 year of age,the AD group exhibited delays in adaptive behavior,language,and personal-social development compared to the control group (t=2.147,1.016,4.246,P<0.05).After adjusting for confounding factors,offspring of mothers with AD had an increased risk of language (OR=2.124,95%CI:1.624 - 7.264) and personal-social (OR=2.016,95%CI:2.014 - 6.998) developmental abnormalities (P<0.05). Conclusions Maternal AD is associated with early microstructural changes in offspring brain development and increases the risk of neurobehavioral abnormalities at 1 year of age.Clinically,it is essential to strengthen mental health assessments in pregnant women and enhance postnatal follow-up management to promote maternal and child health.

Key words

prenatal depression / brain structure / neurobehavioral development / offspring

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LIU Xiaoli, HUANG Bei, CHEN Yabin. Effects of antenatal depression on early brain structure and neurobehavioral development of infants at 1 year of age[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(6): 603-607 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1340

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