The Transmission Of Perinatal Maternal Mental Health To Preschool Emotional Disorders: Examining Pathways And Intervention Points In The MPEWS Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$970,795.00
Summary
While it is known that depression, anxiety and stress in pregnancy increase the risk for poorer child mental health, what is unknown is the key pathways and intervention points to prevent this transmission of risk. This study will examine potential mechanisms and intervention points through a selected cohort study: Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study. This study follows 500 women and their children from first trimester in pregnancy until the children are 3 years of age.
FETAL ORIGIN OF ADULT DISEASE? A POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF THE OFFSPRING OF WOMEN WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,875.00
Summary
Fetal origin of adult disease is a currently influential paradigm in epidemiological research into common diseases (ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes) and behaviour problems (suicide, criminal offending). It postulates an early pathophysiological programming of outcomes that become manifest in adult life. In the proposed research we aim to examine key aspects of this model by conducting a population-based study on the developmental outcomes, antecedent and concomitant risk factors, ....Fetal origin of adult disease is a currently influential paradigm in epidemiological research into common diseases (ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes) and behaviour problems (suicide, criminal offending). It postulates an early pathophysiological programming of outcomes that become manifest in adult life. In the proposed research we aim to examine key aspects of this model by conducting a population-based study on the developmental outcomes, antecedent and concomitant risk factors, and a spectrum of neuropsychiatric morbidity in all children (N-5150) born in Western Australia in 1980-2001 to women diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder or unipolar depression, as compared to children (N-504,553) born to women without a diagnosed psychiatric illness. The study will be based on record linkage, utilising the unique resource of multiple, comprehensive population databases in Western Australia. Specifically, this research will identify the range of developmental outcomes and morbidity in four consecutive birth cohorts (1980-84; 1985-89; 1990-94; and 1995-2001) of children at high genetic and environmental risk and examine their relationship to specific risk factors, including familial genetic load, obstetric complications, severity of maternal illness, and psychosocial adversity. The study will be the first of its kind and its findings will inform aetiological research into the major mental disorders, as well as clinical and public health practice. It will provide novel data on fundamental issues, such as the interaction between genetic risk and environmental factors in the causation of schizophrenia, as well as on the extent to which the risk of developing severe mental illness is immutably embedded in its fetal origin, or is modifiable by subsequent mitigating factors and appropriate intervention.Read moreRead less
Neonatal Vitamin D Status And Risk Of Schizophrenia: A Study Using Danish Dried Bloods Spots
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$164,980.00
Summary
There is increasing evidence that low levels of vitamin D (i.e. the 'sunshine hormone') during early development can alter brain development. In particular, it has been proposed that low vitamin D during development (e.g. prenatal and in early life), increases the risk of developing schizophrenia during adulthood. A previous study based on stored third trimester blood samples from US women suggested that very low levels of maternal vitamin D may be associated with an increased risk of schizophre ....There is increasing evidence that low levels of vitamin D (i.e. the 'sunshine hormone') during early development can alter brain development. In particular, it has been proposed that low vitamin D during development (e.g. prenatal and in early life), increases the risk of developing schizophrenia during adulthood. A previous study based on stored third trimester blood samples from US women suggested that very low levels of maternal vitamin D may be associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in the offspring. We have the opportunity to explore this hypothesis using a large, well-described Danish 'bio-bank'. Since 1981, blood samples from newborn babies have been kept by a central agency in Denmark. In collaboration with senior Danish medical researchers, 900 blood samples of babies who have subsequently developed schizophrenia and 1800 from matched healthy individuals have been identified. We will measure vitamin D levels in these blood samples. We predict that babies with low levels of vitamin D will have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. If low prenatal vitamin D does increase the risk of schizophrenia, this finding will have important implications from a public health perspective. Just as the number of infants affected by spina bifida has been reduced by adding folate supplements to foods, optimizing maternal vitamin D levels may lead to a reduction in the incidence of schizophrenia.Read moreRead less