Dieter John N I, Emory Eugene K, Johnson Katrina C, Raynor B Denise
Emory University.
Infant Ment Health J. 2008 Sep;29(5):420-441. doi: 10.1002/imhj.20192.
Newborns of depressed and anxious mothers show biobehavioral abnormalities suggesting that maternal psychological distress has negative effects on the fetus. Two studies examined the fetuses of depressed and nondepressed mothers: (a) a cross-sectional investigation of fetal activity during the second and third trimesters and (b) an examination of behavioral and heart rate response to vibratory stimulation in late-gestation fetuses. Fetuses of depressed mothers were more active during the fifth, sixth, and seventh gestational months. Assessment of late-term fetuses consisted of a baseline, trials of vibratory stimulation directed towards measuring habituation, and a poststimulation period. During baseline, the fetuses of depressed mothers exhibited a lower heart rate. During stimulation trials, they showed less total movement and appeared to habituate more often. Approximately 35% of the variance in fetal behavior was accounted for by the mothers' depression and anxiety symptoms. Maternal depression may be linked to greater fetal activity during the second and third trimesters and decreased behavioral responsivity during late gestation. The response of late-term fetuses of depressed mothers to vibratory stimulation may reflect "receptor adaptation/effector fatigue" and not true habitation. Future studies should examine the value of clinical interventions provided to the pregnant mother.
抑郁和焦虑母亲的新生儿表现出生物行为异常，这表明母亲的心理困扰会对胎儿产生负面影响。两项研究对抑郁母亲和非抑郁母亲的胎儿进行了检查：（a）对妊娠中期和晚期胎儿活动的横断面调查，以及（b）对妊娠晚期胎儿对振动刺激的行为和心率反应的检查。抑郁母亲的胎儿在妊娠第五、第六和第七个月时活动更为频繁。对晚期胎儿的评估包括一个基线期、旨在测量习惯化的振动刺激试验，以及刺激后阶段。在基线期，抑郁母亲的胎儿心率较低。在刺激试验期间，他们的总活动较少，而且似乎更常出现习惯化。胎儿行为中约35%的变异可由母亲的抑郁和焦虑症状来解释。母亲的抑郁可能与妊娠中期和晚期胎儿活动增加以及妊娠晚期行为反应性降低有关。抑郁母亲的晚期胎儿对振动刺激的反应可能反映的是“受体适应/效应器疲劳”，而非真正的习惯化。未来的研究应探讨为孕妇提供临床干预措施的价值。
