Association of prenatal depression and anxiety with cortical development and behavioral outcomes in 8-year-old children

Pregnant women often experience heightened depression and anxiety, which may potentially impact children's long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Utilizing a longitudinal cohort, we aimed to evaluate the potential long-term impacts of depression and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Sixty-nine pregnant women and children dyads were included in this study, with maternal depression and anxiety symptoms assessed using Beck Depression Inventory-II and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at 12-, 24-, and 36-weeks of pregnancy. Analyses were conducted to examine the associations between prenatal depression and anxiety symptoms and children's cortical/subcortical features measured by the MRI as well as behavioral and emotional challenges using Behavior Assessment System for Children - Third Edition at age 8 years. Higher maternal depression symptoms during the second trimester correlated with reduced cortical surface area of the right parahippocampal gyrus; and higher maternal anxiety symptoms during the second trimester correlated with reduced gyrification of the left superior parietal gyrus. Additionally, maternal depression symptoms during the first trimester positively correlated with children's externalizing problem, hyperactivity, and somatization; maternal anxiety symptoms during the second trimester positively correlated with children's behavioral symptoms index, and withdrawal which was partially mediated by gyrification of the left superior parietal gyrus. Our findings suggest that exposure to maternal depression or anxiety may have potential long-lasting impacts on children's brain and neurodevelopment and/or neurobehavioral outcomes at age 8 years.