Anxiety and depressive disorders in the offspring of mothers with perinatal depressive disorders

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Jul 25. doi: 10.1007/s00787-025-02803-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Maternal perinatal depression has been linked to increased risk of anxiety and depression in offspring. However, many studies are limited by small sample sizes, self-reported data, and insufficient adjustment for confounders, including comorbid maternal anxiety disorders. Using a large linked administrative health dataset from New South Wales, Australia, this study aimed to examine the risk of anxiety and depressive disorders among offspring of mothers with perinatal depressive disorders, with diagnoses identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10 AM) codes. Associations were assessed using generalized linear model and propensity score matching. Offspring of mothers with perinatal depressive disorders had a 56% higher risk of depressive disorders (RR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.05-2.29), though this was not observed after matching (RR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.93-2.18). Maternal perinatal depressive disorders were associated with a higher risk of anxiety disorders (RR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.78-2.48), which remained significant after propensity score matching (RR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.59-2.28). Offspring of mothers with comorbid perinatal depressive and anxiety disorders had a 2.36-fold higher risk of depressive disorders (RR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.21-4.63), a 2.56-fold higher risk of anxiety disorders (RR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.89-3.48), and a 3.37-fold higher risk of comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders (RR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.54-7.36). These findings highlight the increased risk of depressive and anxiety disorders in offspring of mothers with perinatal depressive disorders, with stronger associations observed when maternal depression coexists with anxiety. The results underscore the need for early detection and targeted interventions for maternal perinatal depressive and anxiety disorders to reduce adverse mental health outcomes in offspring.

PMID:40711570 | DOI:10.1007/s00787-025-02803-9