Dr. Adams
03-17-2007, 09:45 AM
Birth weight may be associated with the risk of depression in adulthood. Prenatal care may be important for the development of good mental health, as well as good physical health. Physicians should be aware that lower birth weight may be a risk factor for depression later in life in women.
Among adult women, current symptoms of depression were strongly inversely associated with birth weight. This association persisted after adjustment for potential confounding factors.
Among adult men, there was no association between depression and birth weight. When more stringent criteria were used to define depression, however, there appeared to be a positive association between birth weight and greater symptoms of depression in men.
The association between an indicator of poor fetal growth and future depressive symptoms is not explained by maternal symptoms of depression or anxiety during pregnancy. Further research in studies with detailed and repeated measurements of markers for these different hormonal pathways is required to determine the underlying mechanisms.
Am J Epidemiol 2007;165:575-582.
Among adult women, current symptoms of depression were strongly inversely associated with birth weight. This association persisted after adjustment for potential confounding factors.
Among adult men, there was no association between depression and birth weight. When more stringent criteria were used to define depression, however, there appeared to be a positive association between birth weight and greater symptoms of depression in men.
The association between an indicator of poor fetal growth and future depressive symptoms is not explained by maternal symptoms of depression or anxiety during pregnancy. Further research in studies with detailed and repeated measurements of markers for these different hormonal pathways is required to determine the underlying mechanisms.
Am J Epidemiol 2007;165:575-582.