Prenatal and Postnatal Depression Increases Risk for Adolescent Depression in Offspring

Maternal depression has been associated with higher depression scores in children (NEJM JW Psychiatry May 3 2006), but whether pre- and postnatal maternal depressions increase risk for adolescent depression has been less understood. To fill this gap in knowledge, researchers analyzed data on 8937 pregnant women who repeatedly completed a self-report depression scale at prenatal weeks 18 and 32, at postnatal week 8 and month 8, and at six later time points until their children were age 12. Fathers provided self-reports of depression at prenatal week 18 and postnatal month 8.

Interview-based assessments for depression were conducted on 4566 offspring at age 18. Full data on 3335 mothers were available; analyses imputed the missing data. Analys…