Protective factors against depression in high-risk children and adolescents: a systematic review of longitudinal studies.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a significant global disability, and early adverse experiences (EAE) represent consistent risk factors in children. However, protective factors play a vital role in promoting healthy development and mitigating these risks. METHODS: We conducted a thorough literature search on Pubmed, APA, Emcare, and EMBASE from 1946 to August 25, 2023. We included longitudinal studies analyzing protective factors for depressive symptoms in high-risk children or adolescents, excluding cross-sectional studies, reviews, and pre-clinical studies. OUTCOMES: Our analysis comprised 29 studies with 62,405 participants, identifying 38 protective factors. Positive individual characteristics, family factors, peer relationships, school-related aspects, neighborhood characteristics and intrinsic religiosity were associated with reduced depressive outcomes. INTERPRETATION: These findings have important implications for developing preventive strategies in this population. Addressing protective factors can contribute to preventing depression and enhancing mental well-being across the lifespan.

Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal and prenatal risk factors may be implicated in the development of bipolar disorder, but literature lacks a comprehensive account of possible associations. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of observational studies detailing the association between prenatal and perinatal risk factors and bipolar disorder in adulthood by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Psycinfo for articles published in any language between January 1st, 1960 and September 20th, 2021. Meta-analyses were performed when risk factors were available in at least two studies. FINDINGS: Twenty seven studies were included with 18 prenatal or perinatal factors reported across the literature. Peripartum asphyxia (k = 5, OR = 1.46 [1.02; 2.11]), maternal stress during pregnancy (k = 2, OR = 12.00 [3.30; 43.59]), obstetric complications (k = 6, OR = 1.41 [1.18; 1.69]), and birth weight less than 2500 g (k = 5, OR = 1.28 [1.04; 1.56]) were associated with an increased risk for bipolar disorder. INTERPRETATION: Perinatal and prenatal risk factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder, supporting a role of prenatal care in preventing the condition.