Psychiatry Research and Motherhood at 6 to 8 (PRAM-P@6to8)

The goal of this observational study is to examine the relationship between severe perinatal maternal mental illness and stress reactivity and general development of children aged 6 to 8 years. Mothers were previously recruited and assessed during pregnancy and their babies were assessed at 6 days, 8 weeks and 12 months post delivery. This follow-up will assess the occurrence of any psychiatric episodes (e.g., depression, mania, psychosis) in the intervening period. Assessments of the children will include evaluation of their response to a mildly stressful procedure, as well as their physical, cognitive and social-emotional development, and their mental health. Possible factors that may moderate the relationship between the mother's perinatal mental health and the child's stress reactivity and development, including the home environment, adversity, parent-child interaction and maternal and paternal (or co-parent) mental health will also be assessed.