Skip to main content

Prenatal Exposure to Glucocorticoids May Increase Risk for Some Mental Disorders in Offspring

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 10, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2025 -- Prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids is associated with some mental disorders in offspring, such as mood, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in JAMA Network Open.

Kristina Laugesen, Ph.D., from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues examined the association between prenatal exposure to systemic glucocorticoids and mental disorders in offspring at age 15 years in a nationwide, population-based cohort study. The final cohort included 1,061,548 infants: 31,518 born to mothers at risk of preterm delivery and 288,747 born to mothers with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders.

The researchers found that among offspring born to mothers at risk for preterm delivery, the adjusted risks for exposed versus unexposed were 6.6 versus 4.3 percent for autism spectrum disorders; 1.6 versus 1.3 percent for intellectual disabilities; 5.8 versus 4.3 percent for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and 7.2 versus 4.6 percent for mood, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. Among offspring born to mothers with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, the corresponding adjusted risks for exposed versus unexposed were 4.8 versus 3.8 percent; 1.1 versus 0.8 percent; 5.5 versus 4.4 percent; and 6.6 versus 4.6 percent, respectively. Through an active comparator and sibling design, these findings were confirmed.

"Our findings should be balanced against the risks of leaving pregnant people untreated and viewed in light of low to moderate absolute risk differences," the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Burnout Still High for Veterans Health Administration Health Care Workers

MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- Burnout remains above prepandemic levels for health care workers at the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA), according to a study published online...

Recent Years Saw Increase in Youth With Anxiety, Depression

MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- From 2016 to 2022, there was an increase in the proportion of youth who experienced anxiety or depression, according to a research letter published...

USPSTF Recommends Counseling to Prevent Perinatal Depression

FRIDAY, April 25, 2025 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends counseling for women at increased risk for perinatal depression (PND). This recommendation...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.