[SSRI-Research] Antidepressants during pregnancy may affect baby

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Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:31:28 -0400

[sSRI-Research] Antidepressants during pregnancy may affect baby

 

 

 

 

Antidepressants during pregnancy may affect baby

 

By David DouglasFri Aug 25, 8:01 PM ET

 

http://news./s/nm/20060826/hl_nm/antidepressants_dc_1

 

Babies born to women who took the newer type of antidepressants called

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs during pregnancy

appear to be at increased risk of having a low birth weight and to

develop respiratory distress, Canadian researchers report.

 

Lead investigator Dr. Tim F. Oberlander told Reuters Health that " our

study was undertaken to distinguish the effects of maternal mental

illness -- pregnancy-related depression -- from its treatment -- SSRIs

-- on neonatal outcomes. "

 

Oberlander and colleagues at the University of British Columbia,

Vancouver examined population health data for almost 120,000 live

births between 1998 and 2001. Fourteen percent of mothers were

diagnosed with depression. The researchers compared the outcomes of

babies born to 1451 depressed mothers treated with SSRIs during

pregnancy and of those born to 14,234 depressed mothers who were not

treated with SSRIs.

 

There was a significantly greater incidence of respiratory distress

(13.9% vs. 7.8%) and longer hospital stays for infants born to

depressed mothers on SSRIs than those born to untreated depressed

mothers, the team reports in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

 

Birth weight and gestational age were also significantly less in

SSRI-exposed infants and a significantly greater proportion was born

before 37 weeks.

 

" These findings are contrary to an expectation that treating depressed

mothers with SSRIs during pregnancy would be associated with lessening

of the adverse neonatal consequences associated with maternal

depression, " Oberlander said.

 

Summing up, he noted that, " while our study may add another cautionary

note to the use of SSRI medications during pregnancy, the use of

antidepressants must be weighed against the risks of untreated or

undertreated disease ... and thus the decision should be made by an

informed patient with her physician on a case-by-case basis. "

 

SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, August 2006.

 

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