Adverse effects of maternal antenatal anxiety on children: Causal effect or developmental continuum?

Abstract

There is much literature on the effects on the developing brain of adverse events in pregnancy and the sensitive period postpartum, both in humans and in animals (Perry & Pollard, 1998). The study published by O'Connor etal(2002, this issue) contributes to this by suggesting that maternal antenatal anxiety increases the risk of behavioural problems in early childhood. They suggest that this could be due to the direct effect of maternal anxiety and stress on foetal brain development. This study also contributes to the longstanding and increasing evidence base that suggests that maternal mental ill health is related to childhood difficulties (Murray et al, 1996).