eMedicineLive

According to a study published online August 15 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers have found that children born to mothers who are depressed, may develop an enlarged amygdala, the part of the brain linked to emotional responses. Children exposed to maternal depression during their growing years have a significantly larger amygdala by the time they are ten years old, as compared to kids who grow up in a normal environment. Similarly enlarged amygdala is also seen in children who have been adopted after being initially raised in orphanages.

 

Dr. Sonia Lupien, PhD, from the Mental Health Institute of University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the lead author of the study has reported that mothers suffering from depression are less sensitive towards their children and exhibit disengaged behavior. The developing amygdala is very sensitive to the quality and quantity of maternal care. Therefore, it is essential that while treating the mother for depression, her children are also taken into account. It is important to realize that depression does not affect an individual alone but the whole family unit.

 

The research was conducted on 10 years old children. The researchers in the study, measured hippocampal and amygdala volume along with the level of stress hormone in 17 children who faced a depressed mother during their growing years and 21 children who did not have to phase such circumstances. They found significant increase in the amygdala volumes of children exposed to maternal depression since birth as compared to children who were not. However, there was no change in the hippocampal volumes of both groups of children. The children of depressed mothers also showed high levels of stress hormone in the saliva when exposed to unfamiliar situations. This shows that children who grow up in a stressful environment, exhibit an increased sensitivity to stress. The researchers have stressed on the need of developing interventions which deal with both mother and her children while treating depression in mothers.

 

References:

---

• 19/05/2012 20:07 - Innate Immune Response during Infancy may predict Acute Respiratory Tract Illness later on
• 18/05/2012 19:05 - Adding Micronutrients in the Prenatal Diet can lower Child Mortality Rates
• 17/05/2012 19:14 - Mechanism behind Development of Tinnitus following Exposure to Loud Sounds Identified
• 16/05/2012 18:41 - Metastatic Risk of Uveal Melanoma can be predicted by Gene Expression Profiling
• 11/05/2012 18:29 - Behavioral Counseling can encourage Sun Protective Behavior among the Young Population

• 05/04/2012 20:28 - Environmental Stress after Birth and the risk of Schizophrenia
• 28/09/2011 14:36 - Increased Coffee Consumption can Decrease Depression in Women
• 24/09/2011 16:00 - Children Born After Unplanned Pregnancy Lag Behind in Verbal Abilities
• 21/09/2011 19:27 - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be treated using Marijuana
• 24/08/2011 17:27 - Exercise can be Used as an Adjuvant Therapy in Patients of Depression

• 19/07/2011 17:15 - Using Antidepressants can Lead to Relapse
• 08/06/2011 01:32 - Happy childhood is associated with happy adulthood
• 06/02/2011 10:40 - Depression - Dr.Hemant Mittal Interview
• 20/01/2011 11:58 - Parental divorce and its association with the suicidal tendencies in children
• 12/01/2011 06:13 - Mental disorders in women after child birth can be reduced by educational intervention

---