Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and risk for early-life psychopathology in offspring: results from a genetically-informative, population-based sample

Hannigan, L. J. , Eilertsen, E. M., Gjerde, L. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Eley, T. C., Rijsdijk, F. V., Ystrom, E. and McAdams, T. A. (2018) Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and risk for early-life psychopathology in offspring: results from a genetically-informative, population-based sample. Lancet Psychiatry, 5(10), pp. 808-815. (doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30225-6) (PMID:30245187)

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Abstract

Background: Maternal prenatal depression is a known risk factor for early-life psychopathology among offspring; however, potential risk transmission mechanisms need to be distinguished. We aimed to test the relative importance of passive genetic transmission, direct exposure, and indirect exposure in the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and early-life internalising and externalising psychopathology in offspring. Methods: We used structural equation modelling of phenotypic data and genetically informative relationships from the families of participants in the Norwegian Mother and Child Birth Cohort Study (MoBa). The analytic subsample of MoBa used in the current study comprises 22 195 mothers and 35 299 children. We used mothers' self-reported depressive symptoms during pregnancy, as captured by the Symptom Checklist, and their reports of symptoms of psychopathology in their offspring during the first few years of life (measured at 18, 36, and 60 months using the Child Behavior Checklist). Findings: Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms were found to be associated with early-life psychopathology primarily via intergenerationally shared genetic factors, which explained 41% (95% CI 36–46) of variance in children's internalising problems and 37% (30–44) of variance in children's externalising problems. For internalising problems, phenotypic transmission also contributed significantly, accounting for 14% (95% CI 5–19) of the association, but this contribution was found to be explained by exposure to concurrent maternal depressive symptoms, rather than by direct exposure in utero. Interpretation: Associations between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and offspring behavioural outcomes in early childhood are likely to be at least partially explained by shared genes. This genetic confounding should be considered when attempting to quantify risks posed by in-utero exposure to maternal depressive symptoms. Funding: UK Economic and Social Research Council, Norwegian Research Council, Norwegian Ministries of Health and Care Services, and Education & Research, Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, and National Institute for Health Research.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:LJH is supported by a 1 + 3 multidisciplinary Ph.D. studentship from the UK Economic and Social Research Council. EME, LG, and EY is supported by the Medicine, Health Sciences and Biology Programme at the Norwegian Research Council (Grant Numbers 231105 and 262177). The MoBa study is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Education and Research (NIH/NIEHS, contract no N01-ES-75558; NIH/NINDA, grant no.1 UO1 NS 047537-01 and grant no. 2 Uo1 NS 047537-06A1). TAM is supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (107706/Z/15/Z). This study presents independent research part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hannigan, Dr Laurie
Authors: Hannigan, L. J., Eilertsen, E. M., Gjerde, L. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Eley, T. C., Rijsdijk, F. V., Ystrom, E., and McAdams, T. A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
Journal Name:Lancet Psychiatry
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2215-0366
ISSN (Online):2215-0374
Published Online:20 September 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Lancet Psychiatry 5(10): 808-815
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
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