[Lithium use in women with bipolar disorder during peripartum]. / Lithiumgebruik bij vrouwen met een bipolaire stoornis tijdens het peripartum overzichtsartikel.

BACKGROUND: Lithium use during peripartum requires careful consideration due to a risk of teratogenic effects, adverse side effects and risk of neonatal complications. However, given the effectiveness of lithium, use during the peripartum period may be indicated. AIM: To provide an overview of the current evidence regarding the clinical use of lithium during peripartum, including risk of relapse in case of (dis)continuation and evolution of lithium levels. METHOD: A review was performed in the Medline and ScienceDirect database. RESULTS: Ten studies were included. Six studies concerned the risk of relapse in case of (dis)continuation of lithium during the peripartum. Four studies concerned the evolution of lithium levels throughout the peripartum. Lithium discontinuation during pregnancy leads to an increased risk of relapse during pregnancy and postpartum. At the same dose, lithium levels are lower than preconceptual in all trimesters. CONCLUSION: Risk and benefits of lithium use during the peripartum should be carefully considered, if possible prior to conception. Close monitoring of maternal lithium levels and renal function is necessary due to significant fluctuations during peripartum.

[Prenatal psychological stress and the development of affective disorders in children: literature review]. / Prenatale psychologische stress­factoren en de ontwikkeling van affectieve stoornissen bij het kind: literatuuroverzicht.

BACKGROUND: The prenatal period appears to be important not only for the development of somatic disorders, but also for the development of psychiatric disorders. Stress and the way people deal with this may play an important role.
AIM: To investigate to what extent prenatal maternal psychological stress is a risk factor for the development of affective disorders in the child. and to demonstrate the importance of systematic screening of the psychological well-being of pregnant mothers and mothers with a pregnancy wish.
METHOD: A systematic literature review via a search in PubMed and Web of Science for articles in English or Dutch.
RESULTS: Prenatal maternal anxiety, depression and subjectively experienced stress are important risk factors in the development of affective disorders in the child, influencing the development of both anxiety disorders and depression.
CONCLUSION: This literature research substantiates the fetal programming hypothesis in which prenatal maternal psychological stress (anxiety, depression and subjectively experienced stress) influences the development of affective disorders in the growing child.

DNA methylation in imprinted genes IGF2 and GNASXL is associated with prenatal maternal stress.

Epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes during embryonic development is influenced by the prenatal environment. Our aim was to examine the effect of maternal emotional stress and cortisol levels during pregnancy on methylation of imprinted genes, insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and guanine nucleotide-binding protein, alpha stimulating extra-large (GNASXL), using umbilical cord blood DNA. Maternal depressed mood (Edinburgh Depression Scale; EDS), pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaire (PRAQ) and cortisol day profiles were assessed throughout pregnancy. At birth, a cord blood sample (n = 80) was taken to study DNA methylation of IGF2 DMR0 (differentially methylated region), IGF2 anti-sense (IGF2AS) and GNASXL using Sequenom EpiTYPER. Linear mixed models were used to examine the relationship between DNA methylation and maternal stress, while correcting for confounders. We also studied the association of DNA methylation with the child ponderal index at birth. We found a cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG)-specific association of PRAQ subscales with IGF2 DMR0 (CpG5, P < 0.0001) and GNASXL (CpG11, P = 0.0003), while IGF2AS was associated with maternal EDS scores (CpG33, P = 0.0003) and cortisol levels (CpG33, P = 0.0006; CpG37-38, P = 0.0005). However, there was no association of methylation with ponderal index at birth. In conclusion, maternal stress during pregnancy, as defined by cortisol measurements, EDS and PRAQ scores, is associated with DNA methylation of imprinted genes IGF2 and GNASXL. Our results provide further evidence that prenatal adversity can influence imprinted gene methylation, although future studies are needed to unravel the exact mechanisms.