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BACKGROUND: The existing epidemiological evidence on the link between maternal depression and the risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children lacks consistency. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively synthesise the existing evidence on the relationship between maternal depression during the antenatal and postnatal periods and the risk of ADHD symptoms in offspring. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsychINFO to identify relevant articles. Random-effects meta-analysis models were employed to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR) along with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane's Q-test and I2-test. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore potential sources of variation within the included studies. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test for regression asymmetry. RESULTS: Twenty-one observational studies, comprising 796,157 mother-offspring pairs, were included in the final analysis. Our meta-analysis found a 67 % (OR = 1.67, 95 % CI = 1.35-2.00) and a 53 % (OR = 1.53, 95 % CI = 1.27-1.78) increased risk of ADHD symptoms in the offspring of mothers experiencing antenatal and postnatal depression, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review and meta-analysis identified an elevated risk of ADHD symptoms in the offspring of mothers who experienced both antenatal and postnatal depression. These findings underscore the importance of early screening and targeted intervention programs for at-risk children and adolescents.
Tusa et al. (Thu,) studied this question.