Pregnancy and Birth
Environmental events surrounding pregnancy and birth have been linked to an increased development of mental illness in the offspring. This includes maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma, conditions of famine, obstetric birth complications, infections, and gestational exposure to alcohol or cocaine. Such factors have been hypothesized to affect specific areas of neurodevelopment within the general developmental context and to restrict neuroplasticity.
People with developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation, are more likely to experience mental illness than those in the general community.
Read more about this topic: Causes Of Mental Disorders
Famous quotes containing the words pregnancy and/or birth:
“Her girlfriends asked that innocent,
“What? What appeals to you?”
when her pregnancy cravings appeared.
Her gaze merely fell
on her husband.”
—Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)
“O take fast hold; let that light be thy guide
In this small course which birth draws out to death,”
—Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)