Background

There is some evidence to suggest that adverse perinatal maternal life events are related to an increased risk of psychosis in offspring. There is, however, limited evidence linking maternal perinatal depression with future risk of psychosis in offspring. The only three studies identified investigate the same birth cohort and yield unclear results (Maki, Riekki et al., Jones et al., Maki et al.). In addition, maternal depression was not assessed using any standardised measure.

Maternal perinatal depression may influence the risk of psychosis in offspring via an effect on foetal development in utero as well as by exerting an environmental influence during infancy. Schizophrenia is considered to be a neurodevelopmental disorder and if there were an association between maternal perinatal depression and schizophrenia it would support a neurodevelopmental perspective.

Investigation of this possible association is important due to the relatively frequent occurrence of perinatal depression and the potential for intervention. Adolescents who report psychotic experiences may be at increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder therefore study of this group may yield important information regarding early life risk factors for psychotic disorders.

Maternal cognitive style is thought to be associated with depression in adolescent offspring. Such cogntive styles may also be related to offspring psychotic experiences and would again offer a potential target for intervention in those at hgh risk of psychotic disorder.

Objective

The primary objective of this study is to establish whether there is an association between maternal perinatal depression and the development of psychotic experience in their offspring during late adolescence.

Hypothesis

Our hypothesis is that maternal perinatal depression is associated with an increased of psychotic experiences in offspring in late adolescence.

Maternal perinatal depression may influence risk of psychosis in offspring through a number of interlinked mechanisms acting both during the intra-uterine period and during early childhood. In order to explore the mechanisms the association between paternal perinatal depression and adolescent psychotic experience will also be explored.