HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in BJP Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ESSEX, M. J. Articles by SMIDER, N. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by ESSEX, M. J. Articles by SMIDER, N. A.

Timing of initial exposure to maternal major depression and children's mental health symptoms in kindergarten

Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

RICHARD MIECH, PhD

Department of Mental Hygiene, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

NANCY A. SMIDER, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Correspondence: Dr Marilyn J. Essex, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA

Declaration of interest Funding was provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (RO1-MH44340), the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Wisconsin Center for Affective Science (P50-MH53524).

See editorial, pp. 93–94, this issue.

Background Little is known about the influence on child mental health symptoms of the timing of initial exposure to maternal major depression or whether the timing is associated with ‘pure’ or co-occurring internalising and externalising symptoms.

Aims To address these issues, while also taking account of child gender and family socio-economic status.

Method In a prospective community-based study, 421 kindergarten teachers rated children's symptoms. Previous assessments of maternal major depression indicated whether children were first exposed during infancy, in the toddler/pre-school period, or never.

Results Exposure during infancy was associated with high internalising symptoms, especially when co-occurring with high externalising symptoms. Initial exposure in the toddler/pre-school years increased the risk of ‘pure’ externalising symptoms among girls.

Conclusions The association of child mental health symptoms with the timing of initial exposure to maternal depression highlights the need for effective prevention and intervention strategies addressed to the developmental issues of each period.

Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue

ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2001 179: 0. [Full Text]  

Causal processes in development and psychopathology

RICHARD HARRINGTON
BJP 2001 179: 93-94. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Essex, H. C. Kraemer, J. M. Armstrong, W. T. Boyce, H. H. Goldsmith, M. H. Klein, H. Woodward, and D. J. Kupfer Exploring Risk Factors for the Emergence of Children's Mental Health Problems. Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 2006; 63(11): 1246 - 1256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. H. Chaudron, P. G. Szilagyi, H. J. Kitzman, H. I.M. Wadkins, and Y. Conwell Detection of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms by Screening at Well-Child Visits Pediatrics, March 1, 2004; 113(3): 551 - 558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. MURRAY, P. J. COOPER, A. WILSON, and H. ROMANIUK Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression: 2. Impact on the mother--child relationship and child outcome The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2003; 182(5): 420 - 427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. HARRINGTON Causal processes in development and psychopathology The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2001; 179(2): 93 - 94. [Full Text] [PDF]