Mental Health Across Generations: pre-and post conception predicators of early life risks

根据澳大利亚健康与福利研究所的数据，2003年，精神疾病是导致澳大利亚疾病负担的十大原因之一，占疾病总负担的13%。精神健康问题和精神疾病是导致残疾、生活质量下降和生产力下降的最大原因。受精神健康问题影响的人的发病率和死亡率往往很高，总体健康状况较差，死于包括自杀在内的一系列原因的死亡率较高。这些情况在流行率和疾病负担方面都很严重，并对家庭、照顾者和社区其他人产生了深远的影响。心理健康问题通常集中在家庭中。然而，此前很少有研究能够调查精神障碍可能从一代传到另一代的各种方式。此外，有证据表明，怀孕前产生的影响可能会对早期生命风险产生重大影响，如子宫内发育、分娩结果和早期母婴纽带。跨代心理健康：怀孕前和怀孕后早期生命风险的预测因素是一项独特的研究，将检查产前孕妇的心理健康和怀孕期间的风险行为。这项研究还将研究以前的产妇心理健康和后来的出生结果以及产后母婴纽带之间的联系。要测试的风险过程将包括遗传、表观遗传(基因表达的变化)、生理和心理社会参数。

In 2003, mental illnesses were among the ten leading causes of disease burden in Australia, accounting for 13% of the total burden of disease, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Mental health problems and mental illness are among the greatest causes of disability, diminished quality of life, and reduced productivity. People affected by mental health problems often have high levels of morbidity and mortality, experiencing poorer general health and higher rates of death from a range of causes, including suicide. These conditions are significant in terms of prevalence and disease burden, and have far-reaching impacts for families, carers and others in the community. Mental health problems commonly cluster in families. However, few studies have previously been able to investigate the range of ways in which mental disorders may pass from one generation to another. Further, evidence suggests that influences that arise prior to conception may have major effects on early life risks such as development in utero, birth outcomes and early maternal infant bonding. Mental Health across Generations: Pre- and post-conception predictors of early life risks is a unique study that will examine antenatal maternal mental health and risk behaviours during pregnancy. The study will also examine the links between prior maternal mental health and later birth outcomes, and post natal maternal infant bonding. The risk processes to be tested will include genetic, epigenetic (changes in gene expression), physiological and psycho-social parameters.