Updates on Perinatal Depression and Child Developmental Disorders

Dear Colleagues, 

On behalf of the editorial team of the Journal Children, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Special Issue “Updates on Perinatal Depression and Child Developmental Disorders” led by Dr. Franca Aceti, Dr. Carla Sogos and Dr. Dr. Marco Tofani (Sapienza University of Rome). As Guest Editors, we are particularly pleased to launch this issue because it focuses on a crucial topic and because it highlights the importance of continued clinical cooperation between adult psychiatry and child psychiatry.

There is much literature evidence showing that early-onset depression determines emotional and cognitive vulnerability for psychiatric disorders in subsequent years. Development studies of adults, adolescents, children and pre-schoolers all identify a family history of depression and exposure to stressful life events as the most robust risk factors for depression. Perinatal mental health is a topic of growing interest, with distinct clinical conditions that could affect mothers in such a period of high vulnerability. Perinatal depression is a frequent and debilitating mental disorder that has become a significant public health concern, especially in developed Western countries, where it has a prevalence of 10 to 20 percent. Important risk factors for perinatal depression include depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy, previous history of depression, life stressors, lack of social support, and problematic couple life.

A major challenge is to collect experiences and research on mother–child care units and emotional and cognitive child development, and then translate this knowledge into evidence-based, combined and effective treatment designs. Mother–child-specific support, habilitation and educational approaches, and models of psychosocial support networks that can reduce risk for mental illnesses all need further investigation.

Researchers and authors are invited to submit original research and literature reviews on intervention approaches in postpartum disorders and emotional and neurodevelopmental disorders in children that may have a significant impact on clinical presentation, diagnostic tools, or novel therapeutics.

Dr. Franca Aceti
Dr. Carla Sogos
Dr. Marco Tofani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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