Prenatal maternal depression and child behavioural and developmental outcomes: an individual participant data meta-analysis in 76,514 children from the EU Child Cohort Network

Key Points

• Child behavioural and developmental outcomes are negatively impacted by prenatal maternal depression, especially in larger cohorts.
• In the analysis of data from 76,514 children, a clear correlation was found between maternal depression and adverse child outcomes.
• Utilizing individual participant data meta-analysis across the EU Child Cohort Network provided comprehensive insights into these relationships.
• This highlights the importance of addressing maternal mental health during pregnancy to improve child development outcomes.