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A Role for Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression in Preeclampsia
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A Role for Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression in Preeclampsia

Monica Myers, Serena Gumusoglu, Debra Brandt, Amy Stroud, Stephen K. Hunter, Julie Vignato, Virginia Nuckols, Gary L. Pierce, Mark K. Santillan and Donna A. Santillan
Journal of clinical and translational science, Vol.8(1), e25
01/12/2024
DOI: 10.1017/cts.2023.704
PMCID: PMC10880014
PMID: 38384900
Appears in  UI Libraries Support Open Access
url
https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2023.704View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a measure of childhood adversity and are associated with life-long morbidity. The impacts of ACEs on peripartum health including preeclampsia, a common and dangerous hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, remain unclear, however. Therefore, we aimed to determine ACE association with peripartum psychiatric health and prevalence of preeclampsia using a case–control design. Methods: Clinical data were aggregated and validated using a large, intergenerational knowledgebase developed at our institution. Depression symptoms were measured by standard clinical screeners: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). ACEs were assessed via survey. Scores were compared between participants with (N = 32) and without (N = 46) prior preeclampsia. Results: Participants with ACE scores ≥4 had significantly greater odds of preeclampsia than those with scores ≤ 3 (adjusted odds ratio = 6.71, 95% confidence interval:1.13–40.00; p = 0.037). Subsequent speculative analyses revealed that increased odds of preeclampsia may be driven by increased childhood abuse and neglect dimensions of the ACE score. PHQ-9 scores (3.73 vs. 1.86, p = 0.03), EPDS scores (6.38 vs. 3.71, p = 0.01), and the incidence of depression (37.5% vs. 23.9%, p = 0.05) were significantly higher in participants with a history of preeclampsia versus controls. Conclusions: Childhood sets the stage for life-long health. Our findings suggest that ACEs may be a risk factor for preeclampsia and depression, uniting the developmental origins of psychiatric and obstetric risk.
 Trauma Preeclampsia depression adverse childhood experiences neglect UIOWA OA Agreement

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