Maternal antenatal depression is highly correlated with a history of the mother having been mistreated in childhood, and these two facts significantly increase the risk of the offspring experiencing adversity. The London- and Cardiff-based researchers suggest that the antenatal period is an optimum time to identify vulnerable women and provide interventions. The study appears online today in Psychological Medicine.

Abstract → 

Plant, D., Barker, E., Waters, C., Pawlby, S., Parante, C; “Intergenerational transmission of maltreatment and psychopathology: the role of antenatal depression.” Psychological Medicine, online June 13, 2012