Investigating the Impact of Maternal-Infant Bonding Impairment Due to Postpartum Depression on Child IQ and ADHD Outcomes

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychiatric disorder following childbirth that is associated with health complications, such as chronic depression, changes in sleep patterns and appetite, and feelings of worthlessness, when left untreated. While PPD directly influences the mother, there are underlying consequences on child cognitive development, such as a link with lower child Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores. This review aims to better understand the impact of PPD on maternal-infant bonding, and how this may influence child Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) outcomes. A literature search on PubMed, OVID Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted using keywords relating to PPD, ADHD, and IQ. Current literature has suggested that PPD-induced impaired maternal-infant bonding is a risk factor for child ADHD outcomes and is associated with lower child IQ scores. However, there are limitations to consider, such as the validity of IQ scores, as the association between PPD and impaired maternal-infant bonding on child IQ scores is complex and multi-faceted. There are many potentiating risk factors and confounders that may influence the mother’s experience of PPD and the developmental outcomes in the offspring.