Maternal Infections Linked to Higher Suicide Attempt Risk in Offspring

A national cohort study published in January 2026 examined the relationship between maternal infections at various stages around pregnancy and the risk of suicide attempts in their children, using Danish register data covering individuals aged 10 and older.

The research included more than two million participants and tracked data over a period of more than three decades. The study focused on maternal infections occurring before, during, and after pregnancy, and compared these exposures to the incidence of suicide attempts among offspring.

Findings indicated that children exposed to maternal infections during pregnancy had a higher incidence rate of suicide attempts compared to those who were not exposed. The risk was particularly elevated when infections occurred in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Increased risks were also observed for maternal infections that took place before or after pregnancy, suggesting that timing of infection was not the only factor associated with the observed outcomes. The study did not find a similar association when examining paternal infections during the same periods.

What the numbers show

• 2,157,641 individuals were included in the study, with 35 million person-years of follow-up
• 141.2 suicide attempts per 100,000 person-years among those exposed to maternal infection during pregnancy, versus 90.0 per 100,000 for non-exposed
• Adjusted incidence rate ratio for suicide attempt after maternal infection during pregnancy was 1.46 (95% CI 1.36-1.56

Additional data showed that the incidence rate of suicide attempts was 144.3 per 100,000 person-years for those exposed to maternal infection before pregnancy, and 128.3 per 100,000 for those exposed after pregnancy. The adjusted incidence rate ratios for these periods were 1.45 and 1.31, respectively.

Previous research supports these findings. A 2023 cohort study published in JAMA Psychiatry reported a 20% increased risk of suicidal behavior among offspring of mothers with primary immunodeficiencies, with no increased risk observed for paternal immunodeficiencies. Another study from 2019 found that children whose mothers were hospitalized for infection during pregnancy faced higher risks of depression and suicide later in life.

Further studies have linked maternal infections during pregnancy to increased risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring. A 2021 meta-analysis found an association between maternal infection and psychosis in children, while a 2020 cohort study identified higher risk for psychotic disorders, especially following severe infections and among male offspring.

Researchers stated that the findings point to a link between maternal infections and increased risk of suicide attempts in offspring, while no such association was found for paternal infections. The results suggest a possible role for the intra-uterine environment, but similar risks for infections before and after pregnancy indicate that other factors, such as underlying susceptibility or socioeconomic conditions, may also contribute.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.