Treating Depression During Pregnancy May Benefit Babies' Brain Development
News related to:University of Colorado Anschutz · 2 min read
AURORA, Colo., Oct. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz have demonstrated that treating depression during pregnancy can influence the development of a baby's brain and improve emotional regulation in early infancy. This is the first randomized clinical trial to show that prenatal psychotherapy can alter infant brain structure, providing strong evidence that maternal mental health during pregnancy can have intergenerational effects on child development.
The study, known as the Care Project, involved pregnant individuals experiencing elevated depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a form of interpersonal psychotherapy consisting of eight weekly 50-minute sessions focused on relationships and social support, or enhanced usual care, which included standard obstetric care, a psychoeducation session about depression during pregnancy, and information about community mental health resources.
The findings revealed that babies whose mothers received psychotherapy during pregnancy showed differences in the development of the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory and emotions. Specifically, babies whose mothers received treatment showed a 5% difference in their hippocampus compared to those whose mothers received usual care. This brain region was associated with better emotion regulation when the babies were 6 months old.
The University of Colorado Anschutz, a world-class academic medical campus, has been at the forefront of research and education for decades. The campus includes the University of Colorado's health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado, which see nearly three million adult and pediatric patient visits each year.
Innovative, interconnected, and highly collaborative, CU Anschutz delivers life-changing treatments, exceptional patient care, and top-tier professional training. The campus conducts world-renowned research supported by $890 million in funding, including $762 million in sponsored awards and $128 million in philanthropic gifts for research.
The study underscores the importance of integrating mental health services into prenatal care. Because prenatal depression is both common and treatable, improving access to evidence-based mental health interventions during pregnancy could benefit the mothers' mental well-being as well as the next generation. The findings add to growing evidence that depression during pregnancy may affect how the baby's developing brain matures, with implications for children's emotional health later in life.
The University of Colorado Anschutz continues to lead transformative advances in science, medicine, education, and patient care. With a commitment to research and innovation, the campus is dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.