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Previous literature has shown that family structure affects language development. Here, factors relating to older siblings (their presence in the house, sex, and age gap), mothers (maternal stress), and household size and residential crowding were assessed to systematically examine the different roles of these factors. Data from mother-child dyads in a Singaporean birth cohort, (677-855 dyads; 52% males; 58% to 61% Chinese, 20% to 24% Malay, 17% to 19% Indian) collected when children were 24, 48, and 54 months old, were analyzed. There was a negative effect of having an older sibling, moderated by the siblings' age gap, but not by the older sibling's sex, nor household size or residential crowding. Maternal stress affected language outcomes in some analyses but not others. Implications for understanding the possible effects of family structure on language development are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Perinatal depression and anxiety are common and associated with sleep problems in the offspring. Depression and anxiety are commonly comorbid, yet often studied independently. Our study used an integrative measure of anxiety and depressive symptoms to examine the associations of maternal mental health (mid-pregnancy and postnatal) with infant sleep during the first year of life. A total of 797 mother–child dyads from the ‘Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcome’ cohort study provided infant sleep data at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, using the caregiver reported Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Maternal mental health was assessed at 26–28 weeks gestation and 3 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Bifactor modelling with the individual questionnaire items produced a general affect factor score that provided an integrated measure of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Linear mixed models were used to model the sleep outcomes, with adjustment for maternal age, education, parity, ethnicity, sex of the child and maternal sleep quality concurrent with maternal mental health assessment. We found that poorer mid-pregnancy, but not postpartum, maternal mental health was associated with longer wake after sleep onset duration across the first year of life (β = 49, 95% confidence interval 13–85 min). Poor maternal mental health during mid-pregnancy is linked to longer period of night awakening in the offspring during infancy. Interventions that aim to improve maternal antenatal mental health should examine infant sleep outcomes.

Purpose: To examine the associations between infants' dietary nutrient trajectories and subsequent neurodevelopment during childhood in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes study.Methods: One-day food records were collected at ages 6, 9 and 12 months, whilst Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III and Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test-2 were conducted at ages 24 and 54 months respectively. Nutrient trajectories were constructed using multi-level mixed modelling and associations with neurodevelopment (24 months: n = 484; 54 months: n = 444) were examined using adjusted multivariable linear regression.Results: At age 24 months, higher protein intake (at 6 months) and increasing rate of intake (from 6 to 12 months) were associated with higher fine motor score [β = 0.17 SD (95% CI 0.03, 0.31) and 0.62 SD (0.10, 1.14) respectively]. Higher fat intake was associated with higher receptive language score [0.04 SD (0.003, 0.07)], but increasing rate of intake was associated with lower expressive language [- 0.20 SD (- 0.39, - 0.01)] and fine motor [- 0.29 SD (- 0.48, - 0.10)] scores. Higher carbohydrate intake was associated with lower gross motor score [- 0.07 SD (- 0.14, - 0.005)], but increasing rate of intake was associated with higher receptive language [0.44 SD (0.08, 0.81)] and fine motor [0.56 SD (0.18, 0.93)] scores. Increasing rate of dietary fibre intake was associated with higher fine motor scores [0.63 SD (0.16, 1.10)]. No significant associations were observed with neurodevelopment at 54 months.Conclusion: Our findings provide greater understanding of how nutrition over time could have varying effects on child neurodevelopment.

Background and rationale Although it has been suggested that pregnancy may influence the course of bipolar disorder (BD), studies show contradictory results. Until now, no studies included a finegrained validated method to report mood symptoms on a daily basis, such as the lifechart method (LCM). The aim of the present study is to investigate the course of BD during pregnancy by comparing LCM scores of pregnant and non-pregnant women. Methods Study design: Comparison of LCM scores of two prospective observational BD cohort studies, a cohort of pregnant women (n = 34) and a cohort of non-pregnant women of childbearing age (n = 52). Main study parameters are: (1) proportions of symptomatic and non-symptomatic days; (2) symptom severity, frequency, and duration of episodes; (3) state sequences, longitudinal variation of symptom severity scores. Results No differences in clinical course variables (symptomatic days, average severity scores, frequency, and duration of episodes in BD were found between pregnant and non-pregnant women. With a combination of State Sequence Analysis (SSA) and cluster analysis on the sequences of daily mood scores three comparable clusters were found in both samples: euthymic, moderately ill and severely ill. The distribution differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women were significant, with a majority of the pregnant women (68%) belonging to the moderately ill cluster and a majority of the non-pregnant women (46%) to the euthymic cluster. In pregnant women the average daily variation in mood symptoms as assessed with Shannon’s entropy was less than in non-pregnant women (respectively 0.43 versus 0.56). Conclusions Although the use of daily mood scores revealed no difference in overall course of BD in pregnant versus non-pregnant women, more pregnant than non-pregnant women belonged to the moderately ill cluster, and during pregnancy the variation in mood state was less than in non-pregnant women. Further research is necessary to clarify these findings.

Objective Previous studies reported less prenatal healthcare consumption and more perinatal complications in women with a migrant background. Hence, we investigated in a country with free healthcare access whether women with a migrant background differed with respect to pregnancy complications, healthcare consumption and in terms of associations with psychological distress in comparison to native Dutch. Methods We included 324 native Dutch and 303 women with a migrant background, who visited two hospitals in Amsterdam for antenatal care between 2014 and 2015. Participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and sociodemographic questions. Complications and healthcare consumption during pregnancy were extracted from medical records. Regression analyses were used with adjustment for covariates. Results Except for gestational diabetes [adjusted OR = 3.09; 95% CI = (1.51, 6.32)], no differences were found between groups in perinatal complications [OR = 1.15; 95% CI = (0.80, 1.64)], nor in healthcare consumption [OR = 0.87; 95% CI = (0.63, 1.19)]. Women with a migrant background reported more depressive symptoms [Cohen’s d = 0.25; 95% CI = (0.10, 0.41)], even after adjustment for socio-economic factors. Psychological distress was associated with more hospital admissions during pregnancy. When experiencing depressive symptoms, women with a migrant background had an increased risk to be admitted [OR = 1.11; 95% CI = (1.01, 1.21)]. Conclusions for Practice This cohort study found no differences in pregnancy-related complications, except for diabetes, nor different healthcare consumption, in women with a migrant background versus native Dutch, in a country with free health care access. However, women with a migrant background experienced more depressive symptoms, and when depressed their risk for hospital admission increased. Additional research is warranted to improve healthcare for this population.

Background: Symptoms of anxiety are often unrecognized and untreated in dialysis patients. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of two widely used screening tools for anxiety in hemodialysis patients. Methods: For this cross-sectional validation study, chronic hemodialysis patients from eight dialysis centers in the Netherlands were included. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) were validated by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory (MINI) diagnostic interview. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off values. Results: Of 65 participants, 13 (20%) were diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorders on the MINI, of which 5 were included in the analysis. ROC curves showed a good diagnostic accuracy of the BAI and HADS-A. The optimal cut-off value for the BAI was ≥13 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 85%) and for the HADS-A was ≥10 (sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%). Conclusions: Based on our limited data, both the BAI and the HADS-A seem to be valid screening instruments for anxiety in hemodialysis patients that can be used in routine dialysis care. The HADS-A consists of fewer items and showed fewer false-positive results than the BAI, which might make it more useful in clinical practice.

Study Objectives Examine how different trajectories of reported sleep duration associate with early childhood cognition. Methods Caregiver-reported sleep duration data (n = 330) were collected using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months and Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire at 54 months. Multiple group-based day-, night-, and/or total sleep trajectories were derived—each differing in duration and variability. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III (Bayley-III) and the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test- 2 (KBIT-2) were used to assess cognition at 24 and 54 months, respectively. Results Compared to short variable night sleep trajectory, long consistent night sleep trajectory was associated with higher scores on Bayley-III (cognition and language), while moderate/long consistent night sleep trajectories were associated with higher KBIT-2 (verbal and composite) scores. Children with a long consistent total sleep trajectory had higher Bayley-III (cognition and expressive language) and KBIT-2 (verbal and composite) scores compared to children with a short variable total sleep trajectory. Moderate consistent total sleep trajectory was associated with higher Bayley-III language and KBIT-2 verbal scores relative to the short variable total trajectory. Children with a long variable day sleep had lower Bayley-III (cognition and fine motor) and KBIT-2 (verbal and composite) scores compared to children with a short consistent day sleep trajectory. Conclusions Longer and more consistent night- and total sleep trajectories, and a short day sleep trajectory in early childhood were associated with better cognition at 2 and 4.5 years.

High rates of unintended pregnancies in patients with mental health problems reflect the unmet need for tailored family planning. This study aims to explore aspects of family planning that are especially challenging for patients experiencing health problems by obtaining the perspective of (former) patients and those with close relationships with the (former) patients. In August 2021, members of a Dutch national mental health panel, consisting of (former) patients and close ones, were invited to respond to a 34-question online survey that included questions on four domains: reproductive history, decision making, parenting, and sexuality. This study has revealed the severe and adverse impact of mental health problems across all of the four domains of reproductive health and family planning, which the questions specifically targeted. Based on these results, we recommend discussing family planning with all patients experiencing or at risk for mental health problems and their partners. These discussions should address a desire to have children, (involuntary) childlessness, uncertainties about parenting and sexuality, while remaining considerate of experienced taboos.

Objective: Symptoms of depression are highly prevalent and undertreated in dialysis patients. To aid clinicians in offering treatment to patients with depression, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the treatment of current depressive symptoms in dialysis patients. Methods: Nine databases were searched on January 8th 2020 for randomized controlled trials on the treatment of depressive symptoms in dialysis patients. In contradiction to previous reviews, we only included studies who selected patients with a score above a defined cut-off for depressive symptoms and used an inactive control group, to investigate the effectiveness of treatments in currently depressed patients. All interventions aimed to treat depressive symptoms were accepted for inclusion. Standardized mean differences were calculated in a random effect meta-analysis. Results: Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review (1640 patients). Nine studies could be included in the meta-analysis. A pooled analysis of 7 studies on psychotherapy showed a standardized mean difference of −0.48 [−0.87; −0.08], with a moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 52%, X2 = 12.56, p = .05). All studies on psychotherapy performed a per protocol analysis and scored high on potential bias. A pooled analysis of two studies on SSRI's showed no statistically significant improvement of depressive symptoms (SMD −0.57 [−6.17; 5.02], I2 = 71%, X2 = 0.2474, p = .06). Conclusions: Psychotherapy is a promising treatment for currently depressed dialysis patients, although quality of evidence is low. More evidence is needed regarding the efficacy of SSRI's, exercise therapy and dietary supplements in this population. PROSPERO: CRD42018073969

Key Points Question Is there an association between the neonatal care setting—a family integrated care (FICare) model in single family rooms with complete couplet-care for the mother-newborn dyad vs standard neonatal care in open bay units—and mental health and participation outcomes among fathers of preterm newborns? Findings In this cohort study of 263 fathers, fathers in the FICare model perceived less stress and participated more in caring for their newborns compared with those in standard care. Participation mediated the beneficial association of the FICare model on fathers’ depressive symptoms and parent-newborn bonding. Meaning These findings suggest that supporting fathers to actively participate in all aspects of care of preterm newborns should be encouraged regardless of the neonatal unit’s architectural design., This cohort study examines the association of a family integrated care model vs standard neonatal care with mental health outcomes among fathers of preterm neonates., Importance During newborn hospitalization in the neonatal unit, fathers often feel anxious and excluded from their child’s caregiving and decision-making. Few studies and interventions have focused on fathers’ mental health and their participation in neonatal care. Objective To study the association of a family integrated care (FICare) model (in single family rooms with complete couplet-care for the mother-newborn dyad) vs standard neonatal care (SNC) in open bay units with separate maternity care with mental health outcomes in fathers at hospital discharge of their preterm newborn and to study whether parent participation was a mediator of the association of the FICare model on outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted from May 2017 to January 2020 as part of the fAMily Integrated Care in the Neonatal Ward Study, at level-2 neonatal units in the Netherlands (1 using the FICare model and 2 control sites using SNC). Participants included fathers of preterm newborns admitted to participating units. Data analysis was performed from January to April 2021. Exposure FICare model in single family rooms with complete couplet-care for the mother-newborn dyad during maternity and/or neonatal care. Main Outcomes and Measures Paternal mental health was measured using the Parental Stress Scale: NICU, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-partum Bonding Questionnaire, Perceived (Maternal) Parenting Self-efficacy Scale, and satisfaction with care (EMpowerment of PArents in THe Intensive Care–Neonatology). Parent participation (CO-PARTNER tool) was assessed as a potential mediator of the association of the FICare model with outcomes with mediation analyses (prespecified). Results Of 309 families included in the fAMily Integrated Care in the Neonatal Ward Study, 263 fathers (85%) agreed to participate; 126 fathers were enrolled in FICare and 137 were enrolled in SNC. In FICare, 89 fathers (71%; mean [SD] age, 35.1 [4.8] years) responded to questionnaires and were analyzed. In SNC, 93 fathers (68%; mean [SD] age, 36.4 [5.5] years) responded to questionnaires and were analyzed. Fathers in FICare experienced less stress (adjusted β, −10.02; 95% CI, −15.91 to −4.13; P = .001) and had higher participation scores (adjusted odds ratio, 3.424; 95% CI, 0.860 to 5.988; P = .009) compared with those in SNC. Participation mediated the beneficial association of the FICare model with fathers’ depressive symptoms (indirect effect, −0.051; 95% CI, −0.133 to −0.003) and bonding with their newborns (indirect effect, −0.082; 95% CI, −0.177 to −0.015). Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that the FICare model is associated with decreased paternal stress at discharge and enables fathers to be present and participate more than SNC, thus improving paternal mental health. Supporting fathers to actively participate in all aspects of newborn care should be encouraged regardless of architectural design of the neonatal unit.

Introduction: Fear of childbirth is a well-known problem during pregnancy and can have implications for childbirth, including prolonged labor, use of epidural analgesia, obstetric complications, presence of traumatic stress symptoms, or request for an elective cesarean section. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected mental health and therefore could have increased fear of childbirth during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate fear of childbirth during the pandemic in the Netherlands compared with a reference group from before the pandemic. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate pregnant women during the first and second waves of COVID-19 compared with both each other and with pregnant women from before the pandemic. Participants were recruited through social media platforms, hospitals, and midwifery practices. Pregnant women aged ≥18 years who had mastered the Dutch language were eligible to participate. Fear of childbirth was measured with the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire online using a cut-off score of ≥85 to indicate clinically relevant fear of childbirth. The primary outcome was the prevalence of fear of childbirth. We undertook additional analyses to specifically look at possible effect modification. Results: In total, 1102 pregnant women completed the questionnaire during the first wave of the pandemic, 731 during the second wave, and 364 before the pandemic. Fear of childbirth was present in 10.6%, 11.4%, and 18.4%, respectively. We considered possible effect modification, which indicated that age and parity had a significant influence. In participants during the first wave of COVID-19, nulliparous women had significantly lower odds (odds ratio [OR] 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34–0.73; p < 0.01) of having a fear of childbirth than did the reference group. Both younger participants in the first wave (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.37–0.93; p < 0.05) and older participants in the first wave (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.28–0.71; p < 0.01) and the second wave (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.21–0.62; p < 0.01) of COVID-19 had lower odds of fear of childbirth than the reference group. Conclusions: Pregnant women during the first and second waves of COVID-19 had lower fear of childbirth scores than pregnant women before the pandemic, indicating less fear of childbirth during the pandemic. This could be explained by an increased level of information, more time to consume information, and better work–life balance with more people working at home during the pandemic.

Background: Chronic stress is often accompanied by alterations in the diurnal rhythm of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal activity. However, there are limited data on the diurnal rhythmicity of breast milk glucocorticoids (GCs) among women with psychological distress. We compared mothers who sought consultation at an expertise center for pregnant women with an increased risk of psychological distress with control mothers for GC diurnal rhythmicity in milk and saliva obtained at the same time. Methods: We included 19 mothers who sought consultation at the psychiatry–obstetric–pediatric (POP) outpatient clinic and 44 control mothers. One month postpartum, mothers collected on average eight paired milk and saliva samples during a 24 h period. GC levels were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. GC rhythmicity parameters were determined with specialized software. Results: For both milk and saliva, no group differences regarding GC rhythms were found. Milk cortisol area under the curve with respect to the ground was lower in the POP group than in the control group (p = 0.02). GC levels in human milk and saliva were highly correlated within each group (p &lt, 0.001). Conclusion: Although there were no differences between groups in GC rhythmicity, the total amount of milk cortisol was lower in the POP group. Long-term follow-up is needed to address the impact of vertical transmission of breast milk GCs.

Both allergic diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders are non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that not only impact on the quality of life and but also result in substantial economic burden. Immune dysregulation and inflammation are typical hallmarks in both allergic and neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting converging pathophysiology. Epidemiological studies provided convincing evidence for the link between allergy and neurodevelopmental diseases such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Possible factors influencing the development of these disorders include maternal depression and anxiety, gestational diabetes mellitus, maternal allergic status, diet, exposure to environmental pollutants, microbiome dysbiosis, and sleep disturbances that occur early in life. Moreover, apart from inflammation, epigenetics, gene expression, and mitochondrial dysfunction have emerged as possible underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of these conditions. The exploration and understanding of these shared factors and possible mechanisms may enable us to elucidate the link in the comorbidity.

Background: Maternal mental health problems often develop prenatally and predict post-partum mental health. However, the circumstances before and following childbirth differ considerably. We currently lack an understanding of dynamic variation in the profiles of depressive and anxiety symptoms over the perinatal period. Methods: Depressive and anxiety symptoms were self-reported by 980 women at 26-week pregnancy and 3 months post-partum. We used network analysis of depressive and anxiety symptoms to investigate if the symptoms network changed during and after pregnancy. The pre- and post-partum depressive-anxiety symptom networks were assessed for changes in structure, unique symptom-symptom interactions, central and bridging symptoms. We also assessed if central symptoms had stronger predictive effect on offspring’s developmental outcomes outcomes at birth and 24, 54, and 72 months old than non-central symptoms. Bridging symptoms between negative and positive mental health were also assessed. Results: Though the depressive-anxiety network structures were stable during and after pregnancy, the post-partum network was more strongly connected. The central depressive-anxiety symptoms were also different between prenatal and post-partum networks. During pregnancy, central symptoms were mostly related to feeling worthless or useless; after pregnancy, central symptoms were mostly related to feeling overwhelmed or being punished. Central symptoms during pregnancy were associated with poorer developmental outcomes for the child. Anxiety symptoms were strongest bridging symptoms during and after pregnancy. The interactions between negative and positive mental health symptoms were also different during and after pregnancy. Conclusions: The differences between pre- and post-partum networks suggest that the presentation of maternal mental health problems varies over the peripartum period. This variation is not captured by traditional symptom scale scores. The bridging symptoms also suggest that anxiety symptoms may precede the development of maternal depression. Interventions and public health policies should thus be tailored to specific pre- and post-partum symptom profiles.

ObjectivePsychiatric comorbidities are common in physical illness and significantly affect health outcomes. Attitudes of general hospital doctors toward psychiatry are important as they influence referral patterns and quality of care. Little is known about these attitudes and their cultural correlates. The aim of this study was to identify attitudes toward psychiatry among general hospital specialists in relation to culture of the practice setting and other clinician factors (gender, age, seniority and specialty).MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in seven countries (New Zealand, China, Sri Lanka, Russia, Israel, Brazil, the Netherlands). Data were collected from senior medical staff of various disciplines using an updated version of Mayou and Smith’s (1986) self-administered questionnaire.ResultsA total of 889 hospital doctors participated. While favourable attitudes toward both psychiatric consultation and management were endorsed by a majority, significant differences were also observed between countries. Subgroup differences were mostly confined to gender, acuity of practice setting and specialty. For example, female doctors in Russia (χ2=7.7, p=0.0056), China (χ2=9.2, p=0.0025) and the Netherlands (χ2=5.7, p=0.0174) endorsed more positive attitudes compared with their male counterparts, but this gender effect was not replicated in the total sample. Chronic care specialists were overall more inclined to manage patients’ emotional problems compared with those working in acute care (χ2=70.8, p (adjusted)ConclusionsThis study adds to evidence for the association of medical attitudes with individual clinician factors and demonstrates that the influence of these factors varies by country. Understanding these issues may help to overcome barriers and improve quality of care provided to general hospital patients.

This study aimed to examine heterogeneity of neonatal brain network and its prediction to child behaviors at 24 and 48 months of age. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography was employed to construct brain anatomical network for 120 neonates. Clustering coefficients of individual structures were computed and used to classify neonates with similar brain anatomical networks into one group. Internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems were assessed using maternal reports of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at 24 and 48 months of age. The profile of CBCL externalizing and internalizing behaviors was then examined in the groups identified based on the neonatal brain network. Finally, support vector machine and canonical correlation analysis were used to identify brain structures whose clustering coefficients together significantly contribute the variation of the behaviors at 24 and 48 months of age. Four meaningful groups were revealed based on the brain anatomical networks at birth. Moreover, the clustering coefficients of the brain regions that most contributed to this grouping of neonates were significantly associated with childhood internalizing and externalizing behaviors assessed at 24 and 48 months of age. Specially, the clustering coefficient of the right amygdala was associated with both internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 24 months of age, while the clustering coefficients of the right inferior frontal cortex and insula were associated with externalizing behaviors at 48 months of age. Our findings suggested that neural organization established during fetal development could to some extent predict individual differences in behavioral‐emotional problems in early childhood. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1362–1373, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

We present the case of a 36-year-old lady with severe borderline personality disorder and depression, who made repeated requests for an immediate Cesarean section at 31 weeks of gestation. Her mood was extremely depressed and she had intense suicidal thoughts. She was worried that she would kill herself and the baby, therefore believing that early delivery would save the baby's life. This was a challenging case that required multidisciplinary collaboration, suicide risk assessment and detailed evaluation of mental capacity. The clinical and ethical dilemmas of this case are discussed by a team of psychiatrists, obstetricians and neonatologists.

Mental health problems during pregnancy can influence fetal growth. However, studies examining the influence of maternal mental health across the normal range of birth outcomes are uncommon. This study examined the associations between symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy on birth size among term Asian infants.One thousand forty-eight Asian pregnant women from a cohort Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes were recruited between 2009 to 2010 at two Singaporean maternity hospitals. At 26 weeks gestation, depressive symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Health personnel recorded birthweight, birthlength, gestational age, and head circumference at birth.Nine hundred forty-six women who delivered term infants had complete data. For this sample, the mean birthweight was 3146.6 g [standard deviation (SD) 399.0], the mean birthlength was 48.9 cm (SD 2.0). After controlling for several potential confounders, there was a significant negative association between STAI and birthlength [β = -0.248, confidence interval (CI) [-0.382, -0.115], P0.001] and a small negative association between EPDS and birthlength (β = -0.169, CI [-0.305, -0.033], P = 0.02). No associations were found between scores on the EPDS, BDI-II, and STAI with birthweight or head circumference.Our preliminary data suggest that among term infants, anxiety and depressive symptoms are not associated with birthweight, while anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with a shorter birthlength.

Background: The origins of mental disorders arise often in childhood. Early life is a period of unique sensitivity with long lasting effects on mental health. However, the mechanisms for these effects remain unclear. Objective: This thesis describes a variety of studies using a developmental framework to promote greater understanding of the influence of nature (genotypes) and nurture (e.g., environmental risk and protective factors) on outcomes later in childhood. Method: The aim of this thesis is to investigate gene and environmental influences on behavioural, emotional, and cognitive outcomes in different samples from the Netherlands and Singapore, most derived from the general population. We assessed early life influences from a neurobiological, social, and a psychological perspective by using a biopsychosocial framework. Results: Our studies support the hypothesis that all experiences during life, including early experiences in utero, will influence the expression of genes and in the end the mental health of individuals. However, genotypes influencing stress responses are found to be ‘‘plastic,’’ which implies that they can be modulated by environmental experiences during life. In line with this, patterns of resilience are found to be contextdependent too. Conclusions: The model of ‘‘epigenetic programming’’ suggests the predictive power of the environment in utero and early childhood on mental health later in life. This association is probably determined by a neurodevelopmental pathway with individual differences in neural and endocrine responses to stress. Keywords: Stress disorders; genes; genotypes; resilience; cognition; behaviour; child development Mentors: Prof. Dr. F. Boer (The Bascule, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam), Prof. Dr. Michael Meaney (Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal), Prof. Dr. M. Olff (center for psychological trauma, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam). Theses defended in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 14, 2011. (Published: 15 October 2011) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2011, 2 : 7229 - DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v2i0.7229

Objective: Children react differently to surgeries. The purpose of this study is to examine the stress response in young children after an adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy, and whether child characteristics of behavioural and neurophysiological nature can predict this stress response. Methods: In this prospective cohort study 43 children, aged 2-7 years, scheduled for adenoidectomy or adenoitonsillectomy (response rate 43%) were recruited from the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Parents completed questionnaires about temperament 4 weeks before surgery, about behaviour and sleeping problems 4 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery, and about posttraumatic stress symptoms 6 weeks after surgery. Neurophysiological measurements (cortisol and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia) were performed 4 weeks before, directly after and 6 weeks after surgery. Results were compared with a control group of healthy children. The data was analysed with paired t-tests and one-way repeated ANOVA. Results: Most children with an indication for an adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy had more behavioural and emotional problems before surgery then the control group. After surgery there was an improvement in behaviour and sleep, in respectively 75% and 68% of the children, especially in boys. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were rare. Emotional temperament was associated with more behavioural problems before surgery (r = 0.53, P = 0.02), after surgery (r = 0.38, P

OBJECTIVE. Birth parameters have been hypothesized to have an influence on IQ. However, studies within the range of normal birth size have been sparse. With this study we examined the associations between birth length, birth weight, head circumference, and gestational age within the normal birth size range in relation to childhood IQ in Asian children. METHODS. A cohort of 1979 of 2913 Asian children aged 7 to 9 years, recruited from 3 schools in Singapore, were followed yearly from 1999 onward. Birth parameters were recorded by health personnel. Childhood IQ was measured with the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices at ages 8 to 12. RESULTS. The mean IQ score across the sample (n = 1645) was 114.2. After controlling for multiple confounders for every 1-cm increment in birth length, 1 kg in birth weight, or 1 cm in head circumference, there was a corresponding increase in IQ of 0.49 points (P for trend < .001), 2.19 points (P for trend = .007) and .62 points (P for trend = .003), respectively. These associations persisted even after exclusion of premature children and children with extreme weights and head circumferences. CONCLUSIONS. Longer birth length, higher birth weight, or larger head circumferences within the normal birth size range are associated with higher IQ scores in Asian children. Our results suggest that antenatal factors reflected in altered rates of growth but within the normative range of pregnancy experiences play a role in generating cognitive potential. This has implications for targeting early intervention and preventative programs.

Although extensive research has already been done on the genetic bases of psychiatric disorders, little is known about polygenetic influences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article reviews molecular genetic studies relating to PTSD that were found in a literature search in Medline, Embase and Web of Science. Association studies have investigated 8 major genotypes in connection with PTSD. They have tested hypotheses involving key candidate genes in the serotonin (5-HTT), dopamine (DRD2, DAT), glucocorticoid (GR), GABA (GABRB), apolipoprotein systems (APOE2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). The studies have produced inconsistent results, many of which may be attributable to methodological shortcomings and insufficient statistical power. The complex aetiology of PTSD, for which experiencing a traumatic event forms a necessary condition, makes it difficult to identify specific genes that substantially contribute to the disorder. Gene-finding strategies are difficult to apply. Interactions between different genes and between them and the environment probably make certain people vulnerable to developing PTSD. Gene-environmental studies are needed that focus more narrowly on specific, distinct endophenotypes and on influences from environmental factors.