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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Children born to mothers with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) face a 30% higher risk of developing mental disorders, a large Taiwanese study found. Anxiety disorders topped the list, and conditions like systemic sclerosis and inflammatory myositis showed the strongest links. Experts say multidisciplinary monitoring of these children is now essential.
A nationwide cohort study out of Taiwan has found that children born to mothers with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) — including lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic sclerosis — are 30% more likely to develop mental disorders compared to children of unaffected mothers. The study tracked nearly 1.95 million children over a median of 11.7 years, making it one of the largest analyses of its kind.
Anxiety disorders were the most common mental health outcome, while neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, intellectual disability, and motor disorders also appeared at elevated rates. Notably, the association was significantly weakened when researchers accounted for prenatal antirheumatic medication use, suggesting that treatment during pregnancy may play a role — though more research is needed to confirm this.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This study signals that children of mothers with autoimmune conditions may need proactive mental health screening from an early age. Clinicians managing pregnant patients with SARDs should consider coordinating with pediatric and psychiatric teams to ensure long-term follow-up for these at-risk children.
