Postnatal depression patients may have difficult children

Mothers with postnatal depression are more likely to have difficult children, new research reveals.

Sufferers of the mental health condition who are insensitive towards their children are more likely to have youngsters with difficult temperaments, a study found.

Researchers believe mothers who respond to their children's needs, even if they are battling depression, teach their youngsters how to regulate negative emotions.

Families with effective communication where everyone is involved in raising the children may also aid infant's self-regulation, they found.

Lead author Dr Stephanie Parade from Brown University, said: 'Maternal postpartum depression was only associated with persistently difficult infant temperament. This work underscores the importance of supporting families in the postpartum period.'

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