Maternal depression and impact on children's development

Abstract

Puerperal psychoses and postnatal depression may be of particular importance because of the possible effect on the early development of the relationship between mother and child. Puerperal psychoses are rare but the onset of neurotic depression is particularly common in the three months after delivery; a new episode occurring in 10-15% of women. If maternal depression does have an important adverse effect on children's development, it is a major health issue. There are, however, reasons to think that the association between maternal depression and various indices of disturbed development in children are not a staightforward consequence of the child's exposure to depressive symptoms.