Stress 'harms brain in the womb'

Infants were anxious and fearful Children whose mothers were stressed out during pregnancy are vulnerable to mental and behavioural problems like ADHD, mounting evidence suggests. Latest UK research by Professor Vivette Glover of Imperial College London found stress caused by rows with or violence by a partner was particularly damaging. Experts blame high levels of the stress hormone cortisol crossing the placenta. Professor Glover found high cortisol in the amniotic fluid bathing the baby in the womb tallied with the damage. The babies exposed to the highest levels of cortisol during their development had lower IQs at 18 months. The same infants were also more likely to be anxious and fearful, she told a conference of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. About a million children in the UK have neurodevelopmental problems - ADHD, cognitive delay, anxiety and so on. About 15% of this might be due to antenatal stress. Professor Glover Professor Glover said: "We looked at what stresses were most harmful. "We found that if the woman had a partner who was being emotionally cruel to them while they were pregnant it had a really significant effect on their baby's future development. "It really shows that the partner has a big role to play."

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Seek Help if “SAD”

By: Psych Central News Editor

on Wednesday, Jan, 24, 2007

Reviewed by: John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
on Wednesday, Jan, 24, 2007

Many believe feeling down or gloomy during the winter months is just a part of life. In fact, a decline in sunlight has been linked to development of seasonal affective disorders (SAD). In a new study, some researchers now believe developing SAD can be a subtype of major depression and should be treated as such.

Lead author Stephen Lurie, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of Family Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, also noted that SAD is sometimes missed in the typical doctor’s office setting.

“Like major depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder probably is under-diagnosed in primary care offices,” Lurie said. “But with personalized and detailed attention to symptoms, most patients can be helped a great deal.”

New, preliminary studies link SAD to alcoholism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, not all people with SAD will have ADHD, according to the review article for the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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Interesting. . . SAD and ADHD are linked.