Stress during pregnancy can expose children to personality disorders

One study found that children of heavily stressed women during pregnancy were 10 times more likely to develop a personality disorder at age 30.

The study also indicated that exposure of pregnant women to moderate tension for a long time could have an impact on the growth and development of the child and that this effect could persist even after the birth of the child.

The study tracked the stress levels of more than 3,600 pregnant women in Finland, and their babies were followed after birth.

According to psychiatrists, mothers should receive psychosocial support and specialized assistance during their pregnancy to ensure their mental health.

Other important factors, such as how children are raised, the financial situation of the family, and the trauma that a child may experience as a child may contribute to personality disorders.

What is the personality disorder?

Personality disorder means that certain aspects of the personality can make life difficult for him and for others around him.

There are different forms of personality disorders, such as the severity of anxiety, emotional distress, paranoia or isolationism.

Personality disorders are thought to affect one in 20 people and are often more likely to have other mental health issues, such as depression, substance abuse or alcoholism.

Personality Disorder Like other mental disorders, education, brain problems and genes can play a role in its development.

What did the study do?

The study, prepared by the British Journal of Psychiatry, asked pregnant women to answer questions about their level of stress and mental stress.

They had to determine if they were experiencing severe stress, tension, or not at all.

The women in the study lived in Helsinki, Finland, and their children were born between 1975 and 1976.

At the age of 30, all diagnoses of personality disorders were controlled and there were a total of 40 cases, all of which were severe hospitalization cases.

That discovered the study on stress?

The study found that high stress levels during pregnancy could have a long-term effect on children.

Children whose mothers were severely stressed during pregnancy were 9.53 times more likely to develop a personality disorder than those whose mother experienced neither stress nor pressure.

Those whose mothers had moderate levels of stress were four times more likely to develop a personality disorder.

Why is tension harmful?

It is unclear how stress in pregnant women can increase the risk of their children's personality disorders, which may be due to changes in the brain, inherited genes or a number of other factors related to the education of children.

Researchers have tried to focus solely on the effects of stress by controlling other factors such as the psychological history of pregnant women, smoking during pregnancy or depression.

Previous research has revealed links between stress during pregnancy and depression, anxiety and schizophrenia in children.

What can we do?

Dr. Trudy Seneviratne, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' School of Mental Health for Pregnancy and Childbirth, said pregnancy can be stressful and pregnant women need support.

"If the stress is not treated, there is a high probability that it will subsist until after birth."

She stressed how delicate it was to talk about this issue and said, "We do not want parents to think that they are hurting their children, but high stress levels are affecting children significantly."

How to reduce stress during pregnancy?

Dr. Seneviratne says that women should be supported at home and work during pregnancy and have coping strategies in case of stress.

"They must learn to rest, ask for help and talk to someone about what they feel."

She also advised eating balanced meals and not smoking and sleeping regularly.

What about the postpartum?

"This study underscores the importance of providing psychosocial and mental health support to pregnant women and families during the prenatal and postnatal periods," said lead author Ross Branigan of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

He insists that it is necessary to know that the midwife or the health visitor has the duty to ask if a pregnant woman has ever had mental health problems and if she feels a sense of hopelessness after the birth of his child to enable him to receive the necessary psychological care.