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Pregnancy anxiety and comorbid depression and anger: effects on the fetus and neonate.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Field, T; Diego, M; Hernandez-Reif, M; Schanberg, S; Kuhn, C; Yando, R; Bendell, D
Published in: Depress Anxiety
2003

One hundred sixty-six women were classified as experiencing high or low anxiety during the second trimester of pregnancy. The high anxiety women also had high scores on depression and anger scales. In a follow-up across pregnancy, the fetuses of the high anxiety women were noted to be more active and to experience growth delays. The high anxiety mothers' high prenatal norepinephrine and low dopamine levels were followed by their neonates having low dopamine and serotonin levels. The high anxiety mothers' newborns also had greater relative right frontal EEG activation and lower vagal tone. Finally, the newborns of high anxiety mothers spent more time in deep sleep and less time in quiet and active alert states and showed more state changes and less optimal performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (motor maturity, autonomic stability and withdrawal). These data highlight the need for prenatal intervention for elevated anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.

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Published In

Depress Anxiety

DOI

ISSN

1091-4269

Publication Date

2003

Volume

17

Issue

3

Start / End Page

140 / 151

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wakefulness
  • Vagus Nerve
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sleep
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Serotonin
  • Psychiatry
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Norepinephrine
 

Citation

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Field, T., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., Yando, R., & Bendell, D. (2003). Pregnancy anxiety and comorbid depression and anger: effects on the fetus and neonate. Depress Anxiety, 17(3), 140–151. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.10071
Field, Tiffany, Miguel Diego, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Saul Schanberg, Cynthia Kuhn, Regina Yando, and Debra Bendell. “Pregnancy anxiety and comorbid depression and anger: effects on the fetus and neonate.Depress Anxiety 17, no. 3 (2003): 140–51. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.10071.
Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, Yando R, et al. Pregnancy anxiety and comorbid depression and anger: effects on the fetus and neonate. Depress Anxiety. 2003;17(3):140–51.
Field, Tiffany, et al. “Pregnancy anxiety and comorbid depression and anger: effects on the fetus and neonate.Depress Anxiety, vol. 17, no. 3, 2003, pp. 140–51. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/da.10071.
Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, Yando R, Bendell D. Pregnancy anxiety and comorbid depression and anger: effects on the fetus and neonate. Depress Anxiety. 2003;17(3):140–151.
Journal cover image

Published In

Depress Anxiety

DOI

ISSN

1091-4269

Publication Date

2003

Volume

17

Issue

3

Start / End Page

140 / 151

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wakefulness
  • Vagus Nerve
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sleep
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Serotonin
  • Psychiatry
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Norepinephrine