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Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Children after Antenatal Maternal Depression Treatment, a Longitudinal Study Built on a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

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  • Laura S. Bleker

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Amsterdam UMC, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Jeannette Milgrom

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
    Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Donna Parker

    (Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia)

  • Alan W. Gemmill

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia)

  • Christopher J. Holt

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia)

  • Alan Connelly

    (Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia)

  • Huibert Burger

    (Department of General Practice, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), University Medical Center Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Tessa J. Roseboom

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Amsterdam UMC, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Susanne R. de Rooij

    (Amsterdam UMC, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Antenatal depression is associated with an increased risk of offspring neuro-developmental disorders, potentially as a consequence of an altered brain development in utero . We hypothesized that reducing maternal depression by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) during pregnancy may ameliorate the offspring’s brain (micro)structural outcomes. 54 pregnant women with a diagnosed clinical depression were randomly allocated to CBT or Treatment as Usual (TAU), showing moderate to large depression symptom improvements after CBT. In 16 of their children (69% boys, N(TAU) = 8, N(CBT) = 8, mean age = 5.9 years, range = 3.9–7.1 years) brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were conducted. Children from the CBT group had a thicker right lateral occipital cortex (difference: 0.13 mm, 95% CI = 0.005–0.26) and lingual gyrus (difference: 0.18 mm, 95% CI = 0.01–0.34). In the CBT group, Voxel-Based Morphometry analysis identified one cluster showing increased gray matter concentration in the right medial temporal lobe at p < 0.05 uncorrected, and fixel-based analysis revealed reduced fiber-bundle cross-section in the Fornix, the Optical Tract, and the Stria Terminalis at p < 0.01 uncorrected. However, none of the results survived correction for multiple testing. Our explorative analyses provided some indication that antenatal CBT for depression may ameliorate offspring’s brain (micro)structural outcomes, but the sample size was extremely small, and our results should be cautiously interpreted. Larger studies are warranted to confirm our preliminary conclusions that CBT for antenatal depression affects brain development in children.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura S. Bleker & Jeannette Milgrom & Donna Parker & Alan W. Gemmill & Christopher J. Holt & Alan Connelly & Huibert Burger & Tessa J. Roseboom & Susanne R. de Rooij, 2019. "Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Children after Antenatal Maternal Depression Treatment, a Longitudinal Study Built on a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-16, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:10:p:1816-:d:233348
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sam Schoenmakers & E. J. (Joanne) Verweij & Roseriet Beijers & Hilmar H. Bijma & Jasper V. Been & Régine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen & Marion P. G. Koopmans & Irwin K. M. Reiss & Eric A. P. Steegers, 2022. "The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Laura S. Bleker & Susanne R. de Rooij & Tessa J. Roseboom, 2019. "Prenatal Psychological Stress Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Health of Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-5, September.

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