Study-protocol of the COMPARE-Interaction study: The impact of maternal comorbid depression and anxiety disorders in the peripartum period on child development

Introduction:To date, there are only few studies which compare the consequences of peripartum maternal depressive disorders (PD) versus depressive with comorbid anxiety disorders (PDCA) for infant and child development. As comorbidity is associated with greater impairment and symptom severity related to the primary diagnosis, comorbidity in mothers might raise their offspring’s risk of developing internalizing or externalizing disorders even more than has been noted in conjunction with PD alone.Methods and analysis:This study aims to analyse the impact of parental psychopathology, particularly peripartum depression in mothers with and without comorbid anxiety disorders according to DSM-5, on child cognitive and socio-emotional development. Maternal/paternal psychopathology, mother/father-infant-interaction, and child development are assessed at four measurement points over the first 2 years (T1: 3–4 months postpartum, T2: 12 months postpartum, T3: 18 months postpartum, and T4: 24 months postpartum). The mediating role of mother/father-infant-interaction and infant stress reactivity in the relationship between PD/PDCA and infant cognitive and socio-emotional development will be analysed.In the ongoing study N=174 families (n=58 mothers with PD, n=58 mothers with PDCA, and n=58 healthy controls) will be recruited in inpatient and outpatient centres as well as maternity hospitals in Munich and Heidelberg.