Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41556101›Full record

SynthesisPsychological medicine2026

Association of parental prenatal mental health with offspring neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Adrianna Kępińska, Thalia Robakis, Shelby Smout, Rachel Bercovitch, Lily Cohen, Ingrid Christina Gustavsson Mahjani, Alkistis Skalkidou, Veerle Bergink, Behrang Mahjani

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psychological medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Adrianna KępińskaIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3232-6289
Thalia RobakisIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2919-2555
Shelby SmoutIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6590-4591
Rachel BercovitchIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.
Lily CohenIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.
Ingrid Christina Gustavsson MahjaniIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.
Alkistis SkalkidouUppsala Universitet, Sweden.
Veerle BerginkIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.
Behrang MahjaniIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.

Funding

Relapse risk after Discontinuation of Antidepressants during Pregnancy (R-DAP study)R01MH122869 · NIMH · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI Veerle Bergink · 2020 to 2026
$4.3M
Developmental effects of antenatal exposure to antipsychoticsR01HD111117 · NICHD · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI THALIA K ROBAKIS · 2023 to 2026
$2.5M
Risk architecture of postpartum psychosisR21MH131933 · NIMH · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI MAHJANI, BEHRANG · 2023 to 2024
$465k
Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver FoundationBrain and Behavior Research FoundationNational Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences R01HD111117National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences R01MH122869National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences R21MH131933NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD111117NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH122869NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH131933
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundParental prenatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are linked to child neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), but evaluations of the magnitude and mechanisms of this association are limited. This study estimates the strength of the association and whether it is impacted by genetic and environmental factors.

methodsA systematic search of PubMed, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, OVID, and Google Scholar was performed for articles published from January 1988 to September 2025. Of 2,420 articles screened, 74 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were conducted on 21 studies, and 53 were included in the narrative synthesis. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses, along with tests for heterogeneity (

resultsMaternal PMADs were associated with a significantly increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-2.52) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD; OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.43-2.14) in children. Paternal PMADs were also associated with the risk of NDDs, with combined odds for ASD and ADHD (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.14-1.33). Several studies suggested that the link between parental PMADs and offspring NDDs might be impacted by both genetic and environmental factors, including the impact of ongoing parental depression on child behavior.

conclusionsParental PMADs are associated with increased risk of NDDs in children. These findings likely reflect a combination of inherited liability and environmental processes; clarifying mechanisms will require genetically informed designs. Regardless of mechanism, offering optional, family-centered developmental support may help promote child well-being in families where a parent is experiencing PMADs.

Indexed as

Anxiety DisordersAttention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityAutism Spectrum DisorderChild of Impaired ParentsMood DisordersParentsPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsChildFemaleHumansMaleNeurodevelopmental DisordersPregnancyanxiety disordersattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderautismintellectual disabilitymaternalmaternal effectmood disorderneurodevelopmental disordersobsessive–compulsive disorderpaternalpaternal effectprenatal

Identifiers

PMID41556101
PMCPMC12885343

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.