Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Poses Risks of Newborn Respiratory Distress, Preterm Birth: Study

Between 7-13% of pregnant women use antidepressants during pregnancy, and a recent study by UC San Diego investigators, “Prenatal Antidepressant Use and Risk of Adverse Neonatal Outcomes,” highlights potential increased risks to newborns. The study, in the July 2020 issue of Pediatrics and published online June 8, examined 15,041 pregnancies in which the mother took antidepressants and delivered an infant between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2016. Researchers categorized patterns of antidepressant use based on the amount and duration of the medication as (A) low use with early pregnancy reduction; (B) low sustained use; (C) moderate use with early pregnancy reduction; (D) moderate sustained use; and (E) high sustained use. The findings showed an increased risk for newborn respiratory distress in all groups, as well as an increased risk of preterm birth at moderate to high sustained doses compared to the lowest use group. While the authors note that the study cannot rule out the severity of depression or anxiety partially explaining the findings, the study does suggest the usefulness of researching pregnancy risks by different patterns of antidepressant use. This approach can help clinicians counsel pregnant women on the use of antidepressants during gestation.

Editor’s Note: A solicited commentary, “Studying Medication Safety in Pregnancy: A Call for New Approaches, Resources, and Collaborations,” will also be published.

###

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.