The Effects of Postnatal Depression on Mother–Infant Relations and Infant Development

Studies of the impact of parental depression on preschool and school-aged children have consistently reported a variety of adverse effects. For example, there have been findings of raised levels of psychiatric disturbance, greater insecurity in attachment relationships and impairments in attention and lowered I.Q. (Weissman et al. 1972; Gamer et al. 1977 ; Cohler et al. 1977; Welner et al. 1977; Grunebaum et al. 1978; McKnew et al. 1979; Weissman et al. 1984; Cox et al. 1987b).