Conclusion
This study showed an increased risk of offspring anxiety at 18 years of age after exposure to maternal antenatal depression at 18 weeks gestation. This association was not seen following exposure to paternal depression. These findings highlight the differences between antenatal depression exposures in different parents. This adds to support for a foetal programming effect occurring during pregnancy, leading to potentially long-lasting effects on the anxiety state of offspring. The exact mechanisms require further study, but this study does highlight the potential opportunity for preventative intervention by optimising the mental health of mothers during pregnancy.