ROLE OF ANTENATAL MATERNAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN THE GENESIS OF CHILDHOOD NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

Abstract

Pregnancy is a critical physiological and emotional period that influences both the mother's health and the child's neurodevelopmental well-being.  The current study examined the correlation between the mental state of mothers during the antenatal period and the subsequent emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring.  Thirty mothers of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Attention Deficit Disorder with Intellectual Disability (ADD+IDD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Global Developmental Delay (GDD), and Mental Retardation (MR), were recruited from the Learning Disability Outpatient Department of SKHMC.  Data were gathered utilizing a pre-structured antenatal mental state assessment questionnaire subsequent to acquiring informed consent.  The mothers' mental states during various trimesters were documented and examined.  The results showed that the most common emotional states during pregnancy were anger, fear, sadness, depression, anxiety, and holding back emotions.  These adverse emotional states exhibited a persistent correlation with neurodevelopmental outcomes in the progeny.  Mothers of children with ADD+IDD primarily experienced fear and sadness; those with ADHD displayed anger, depression, and emotional suppression; while mothers of children with ASD and GDD predominantly exhibited depression and anxiety-related states.  The study underscores that antenatal psychological distress can negatively impact fetal neurodevelopment, resulting in enduring behavioral and cognitive deficits.  From a homeopathic standpoint, these findings underscore the importance of comprehending the mother's mental and emotional condition during pregnancy as a crucial element of case assessment and prescription.  It is very important to find out about neurodevelopmental disorders in children as soon as possible, give them emotional support, and manage their pregnancy in a holistic way.‎