Fetal programming and mental health: repercussions of maternal psychological distress on the child's neuropsychological development

Abstract

Pregnancy is recognized as a critical window for human development, a period during which the intrauterine environment exerts a decisive influence on fetal growth and maturation. Various external and maternal psychological factors — such as stress, anxiety, and depression — act as modulators of fetal programming, triggering epigenetic changes capable of having a lasting impact on child development. These modifications may increase the child’s vulnerability to the onset of psychiatric disorders, learning difficulties, and emotional alterations, such as anxiety and depression, throughout life. In light of this reality, it becomes essential to understand the mechanisms involved in the maternal-fetal interaction, as well as to analyze scientific evidence linking maternal psychological distress to neuropsychological repercussions in childhood. Furthermore, deepening this knowledge allows for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies, focusing on the promotion of maternal mental health as a tool to protect the child’s neuropsychological development, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive and multidisciplinary care during prenatal follow-up. General objective: Analyze how maternal psychological distress during pregnancy influences fetal programming and the repercussions of this process on the child’s neuropsychological development. Specific objective: Review the literature on the relationship between psychological distress during the gestational period and changes in child development; Describe the main biological mechanisms involved in fetal programming, including hormonal, epigenetic, and placental alterations; Identify evidence of neuropsychological repercussions in children, such as increased vulnerability to disorders, emotional alterations, and cognitive difficulties; Analyze preventive and therapeutic perspectives aimed at promoting maternal mental health as a strategy to protect child development.