© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Birth weight and the risk of depressive disorder in late life
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit and Community Clinical Sciences Research Division, University of Southampton, Southampton
Correspondence: Dr Christopher Thompson, Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Brinton's Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YG, UK
Background Low birth weight is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension. Depression is highly associated with these conditions.
Aims To examine the association between birth weight and depression in late life.
Method A total of 882 singleton term births in the 1920s had contemporary records of birth weight and weight at 1 year. At 68 years all completed the Geriatric Depression Scale and 867 completed the Geriatric Mental State Examination. A logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between depression, birth weight and weight at 1 year while adjusting for known risk factors.
Results Current social class, social class at birth, recent bereavement, social isolation and physical illness increased the risk of depression. After adjusting for these and weight at 1 year, the odds ratios for depression among men, but not women, rose incrementally with decreasing birth weight (1.0, 12.8; for continuous variable, P<0.007).
Conclusions Foetal undernutrition predisposes men to depression in late adult life. If replicated, these results would suggest a neurodevelopmental aetiology of depression, possibly mediated by programming of the hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenal axis.
Related articles in BJP:
- Highlights of this issue
- ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2001 179: 0.[Full Text]
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  H. Chang-Quan, Z. Xue-Mei, D. Bi-Rong, L. Zhen-Chan, Y. Ji-Rong, and L. Qing-Xiu Health status and risk for depression among the elderly: a meta-analysis of published literature Age Ageing, November 10, 2009; (2009) afp187v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Alati, J. M Najman, M. O'Callaghan, W. Bor, G. M Williams, and A. Clavarino Fetal growth and behaviour problems in early adolescence: findings from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2009; 38(5): 1390 - 1400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Sabet, L. M Richter, P. G Ramchandani, A. Stein, M. A Quigley, and S. A Norris Low birthweight and subsequent emotional and behavioural outcomes in 12-year-old children in Soweto, South Africa: findings from Birth to Twenty Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2009; 38(4): 944 - 954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. M. Bohnert and N. Breslau Stability of Psychiatric Outcomes of Low Birth Weight: A Longitudinal Investigation Arch Gen Psychiatry, September 1, 2008; 65(9): 1080 - 1086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Hotopf, M. Henderson, and D. Kuh Invited Commentary: Stress and Mortality Am. J. Epidemiol., September 1, 2008; 168(5): 492 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Raikkonen, A.-K. Pesonen, K. Heinonen, E. Kajantie, P. Hovi, A.-L. Jarvenpaa, J. G. Eriksson, and S. Andersson Depression in Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: The Helsinki Study of Very Low-Birth-Weight Adults Arch Gen Psychiatry, March 1, 2008; 65(3): 290 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. M. Inskip, N. Dunn, K. M. Godfrey, C. Cooper, T. Kendrick, and the Southampton Women's Survey Study Group Is Birth Weight Associated with Risk of Depressive Symptoms in Young Women? Evidence from the Southampton Women's Survey Am. J. Epidemiol., January 15, 2008; 167(2): 164 - 168. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Bjerkeset, P. Romundstad, J. Evans, and D. Gunnell Association of Adult Body Mass Index and Height with Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide in the General Population: The HUNT Study Am. J. Epidemiol., January 15, 2008; 167(2): 193 - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Kajantie, K. Feldt, K. Raikkonen, D. I. W. Phillips, C. Osmond, K. Heinonen, A.-K. Pesonen, S. Andersson, D. J. P. Barker, and J. G. Eriksson Body Size at Birth Predicts Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Response to Psychosocial Stress at Age 60 to 70 Years J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2007; 92(11): 4094 - 4100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Tyrer From the Editor's desk The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2007; 191(1): 96 - 96. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. RAIKKONEN, A.-K. PESONEN, E. KAJANTIE, K. HEINONEN, T. FORSEN, D. I. W. PHILLIPS, C. OSMOND, D. J. P. BARKER, and J. G. ERIKSSON Length of gestation and depressive symptoms at age 60 years The British Journal of Psychiatry, June 1, 2007; 190(6): 469 - 474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. J. Costello, C. Worthman, A. Erkanli, and A. Angold Prediction From Low Birth Weight to Female Adolescent Depression: A Test of Competing Hypotheses Arch Gen Psychiatry, March 1, 2007; 64(3): 338 - 344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Alati, D. A. Lawlor, A. A. Mamun, G. M. Williams, J. M. Najman, M. O'Callaghan, and W. Bor Is There a Fetal Origin of Depression? Evidence from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and Its Outcomes Am. J. Epidemiol., March 1, 2007; 165(5): 575 - 582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y. Nomura and C. M. Chemtob Conjoined Effects of Low Birth Weight and Childhood Abuse on Adaptation and Well-being in Adolescence and Adulthood Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, February 1, 2007; 161(2): 186 - 192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. V. Riordan, S. Selvaraj, C. Stark, and J. S. E. Gilbert Perinatal circumstances and risk of offspring suicide: Birth cohort study The British Journal of Psychiatry, December 1, 2006; 189(6): 502 - 507. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Fisher, J. Baird, L. Payne, P. Lucas, J. Kleijnen, H. Roberts, and C. Law Are infant size and growth related to burden of disease in adulthood? A systematic review of literature Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2006; 35(5): 1196 - 1210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Scott, Y. McNeill, J. Cavanagh, M. Cannon, and R. Murray Exposure to obstetric complications and subsequent development of bipolar disorder: Systematic review The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2006; 189(1): 3 - 11. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. J. Wiles, T. J. Peters, J. Heron, D. Gunnell, A. Emond, G. Lewis, and for the ALSPAC Study Team Fetal Growth and Childhood Behavioral Problems: Results from the ALSPAC Cohort Am. J. Epidemiol., May 1, 2006; 163(9): 829 - 837. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. E. Murphy, R. Smith, W. B. Giles, and V. L. Clifton Endocrine Regulation of Human Fetal Growth: The Role of the Mother, Placenta, and Fetus Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 141 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. W. Franks, H. C. Looker, S. Kobes, L. Touger, P. A. Tataranni, R. L. Hanson, and W. C. Knowler Gestational Glucose Tolerance and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Young Pima Indian Offspring Diabetes, February 1, 2006; 55(2): 460 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Favaro, E. Tenconi, and P. Santonastaso Perinatal Factors and the Risk of Developing Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 82 - 88. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. K. E. Magnusson, F. Rasmussen, D. A. Lawlor, P. Tynelius, and D. Gunnell Association of Body Mass Index with Suicide Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study of More than One Million Men Am. J. Epidemiol., January 1, 2006; 163(1): 1 - 8. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.-i. Shukunami, K. Nishijima, M. Shukunami, F. Kotsuji, M. Isohanni, and K. Moilanen Is gestational week at birth a predictor of schizophrenia? * Authors' reply The British Journal of Psychiatry, December 1, 2005; 187(6): 589 - 589. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Alati, J. M. Najman, S. A. Kinner, A. A. Mamun, G. M. Williams, M. O'Callaghan, and W. Bor Early Predictors of Adult Drinking: A Birth Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2005; 162(11): 1098 - 1107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Gunnell and G. Lewis Studying suicide from the life course perspective: implications for prevention The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2005; 187(3): 206 - 208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. K.E. Magnusson, D. Gunnell, P. Tynelius, G. Davey Smith, and F. Rasmussen Strong Inverse Association Between Height and Suicide in a Large Cohort of Swedish Men: Evidence of Early Life Origins of Suicidal Behavior? Am J Psychiatry, July 1, 2005; 162(7): 1373 - 1375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. J. WILES, T. J. PETERS, D. A. LEON, and G. LEWIS Birth weight and psychological distress at age 45-51 years: Results from the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s cohort study The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2005; 187(1): 21 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. O'keane and J. Scott From 'obstetric complications' to a maternal-foetal origin hypothesis of mood disorder The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2005; 186(5): 367 - 368. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Osler, M. Nordentoft, and A.-M. N. Andersen Birth dimensions and risk of depression in adulthood: cohort study of Danish men born in 1953 The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2005; 186(5): 400 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. D. Gluckman and M. A. Hanson Living with the Past: Evolution, Development, and Patterns of Disease Science, September 17, 2004; 305(5691): 1733 - 1736. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.-M. N. Andersen and M. Osler Birth dimensions, parental mortality, and mortality in early adult age: a cohort study of Danish men born in 1953 Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2004; 33(1): 92 - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. R. GALE and C. N. MARTYN Birth weight and later risk of depression in a national birth cohort The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 184(1): 28 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Mustillo, C. Worthman, A. Erkanli, G. Keeler, A. Angold, and E. J. Costello Obesity and Psychiatric Disorder: Developmental Trajectories Pediatrics, April 1, 2003; 111(4): 851 - 859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 OTHER ARTICLES NOTED (Nov 01 to 18 Oct 02) Evid. Based Nurs., January 1, 2003; 6(1): e1 - 1. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|