Transition to Parenthood and Bipolar Disorder

The birth of the first child - often referred to as transition to parenthood - is an important and often joyful life event, however, for women with pre-existing severe mental illnesses (such as bipolar disorder) and their partners, it can also be a time of heightened psychosocial distress and complex decision-making. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the decision-making process, information and support needs as experienced by women with bipolar disorder and their partners in each stage of their journey from pre-conception to the early postnatal period. Data will be collected and analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Up to 20 interviews will be conducted in the UK with women diagnosed with bipolar disorder before becoming mothers (up to n=10) and/or their partners (up to n=10) with a first child under 5 years old. Findings of this project, guided by the voices of those with lived experiences, would provide additional information for future service design, perinatal mental health policy, and clinical practice suited to the needs of the individuals who use them

Systematic Review on the Impact of Different Presentations of Maternal Depression on Children's Socio-Emotional Development

Background: Maternal depression from the perinatal period onwards is associated with an increased likelihood of suboptimal socio-developmental outcomes in offspring, with increasing interest in the extent to which sustained maternal depression impacts on these associations. The current protocol outlines the methodology of a systematic review to synthesise the evidence on the impact of maternal depression from the perinatal period onwards and offspring socio-emotional development, defined as internalising, externalising, and social competence outcomes. We aim to explore the effects of timing, chronicity and severity of maternal depression on outcomes, and identify sources of methodological bias. Methods/Design: The conduct and reporting of the protocol will adhere to PRISMA-P guidelines. The systematic review will be conducted using the following electronic databases: APA PsycInfo, EMBASE, MEDLINE. Grey literature will be searched from the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. Discussion: Findings from the systematic review will enhance knowledge around potential heterogeneity of timing, chronicity and severity of maternal depression and its impact on offspring socio-emotional development

The association of different presentations of maternal depression with children's socio-emotional development: A systematic review.

Maternal depression from the perinatal period onwards is a global health priority associated with an increased likelihood of suboptimal socio-developmental outcomes in offspring. An important aspect of this association is the extent to which sustained maternal depression impacts on these outcomes. The current review synthesised the evidence on maternal depression from the perinatal period onwards and offspring internalising, externalising, and social competence outcomes. We also identified sources of methodological bias. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Longitudinal studies targeting biological mothers with depressive symptomology, detailing onset, using repeated validated measures, and assessing children's outcomes between three and 12 years were included. Twenty-four studies met inclusion criteria. Findings supported the validity of different presentations of maternal depression, including consistent identification of a group of chronically depressed mothers across countries. Mothers within this group reported poorer internalising, externalising, and social competence outcomes for their offspring, with the highest levels of child problems associated with greater maternal chronicity and symptom severity. Results differed by measurement type with mothers rating poorer outcomes in comparison to teachers reports. For timing of depression, evidence was inconsistent for independent effects of antenatal or postnatal depression on child outcomes. There was substantial variability in study quality assessment. Assessing different presentations of maternal depression is essential for capturing the longitudinal associations between maternal depression and offspring outcomes to inform targets of early intervention. Chronicity, severity, and concurrent maternal depression have important implications for children's development and should be targeted in future programme planning. Further research in low- and middle-income countries is warranted