Maternal postnatal depression predicts altered offspring biological stress reactivity in adulthood. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barry, Tom J.; Murray, Lynne; Fearon, R.M. Pasco; Moutsiana, Christina; Cooper, Peter; Goodyer, Ian M.; Herbert, Joe; Halligan, Sarah L.
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 52(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 251
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Depression -- Stress sensitivity -- Cortisol -- Maternal depression -- Longitudinal -- Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.12.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: Postnatally depressed (PND) mothers' offspring showed increased cortisol stress reactivity. This response at age 22-years was relative to control offspring. There was also evidence of stable alterations in cortisol secretion in the PND group. Offspring or subsequent maternal depression did not explain group differences. Early maternal depression can predict offspring biological sensitivity to stress. Summary: The offspring of depressed parents have been found to show elevated basal levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Whether heightened cortisol stress reactivity is also present in this group has yet to be clearly demonstrated. We tested whether postnatal maternal depression predicts subsequent increases in offspring biological sensitivity to social stress, as indexed by elevated cortisol reactivity. Participants (mean age 22.4-years) derived from a 22-year prospective longitudinal study of the offspring of mothers who had postnatal depression (PND group; n = 38) and a control group ( n = 38). Salivary cortisol response to a social-evaluative threat (Trier Social Stress Test) was measured. Hierarchical linear modelling indicated that PND group offspring showed greater cortisol reactivity to the stress test than control group participants. Group differences were not explained by offspring depressive or anxiety symptoms, experiences of negative life events, elevated basal cortisol at age 13-years, subsequent exposure to maternal depression, or other key covariates. The findings indicate that the presence of early maternal depression can predict offspring biological sensitivity to social stress in adulthood, with potential implications for broader functioning.