Top US Professor explains why treating depression during pregnancy may be a good idea for the baby (Credit: AP, Unsplash)
\n\nNew findings from researchers at the University of Denver show that providing mental health support to mothers during pregnancy can benefit not only their mental health but also their children's development. The study found that treating maternal depression during pregnancy can influence birth outcomes and a child's brain development.
\n\nElysia Davis, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Denver, led the research in partnership with researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The team studied approximately 230 mothers and their children over five years, beginning early in pregnancy.
\n\n"Depression is one of the most common perinatal or prenatal complications. As many as one in five pregnant women experience depression or elevated depression symptoms during pregnancy. So this is something that has a has an impact on quite a large number of people," Davis explained.
\n\nThe researchers examined the impact of interpersonal psychotherapy, a treatment approach offered to mothers experiencing depression during pregnancy. The findings showed that mothers who participated in the treatment group experienced an 80 per cent…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle
