Association of Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy With Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children

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Abstract
Mental health disorders, and in particular depressive disorders, are common among women of reproductive age, including during pregnancy.1-3 Accordingly, antidepressants and other psychiatric medications are frequently prescribed, especially for women with severe illness. In the US, estimates for the prevalence of antidepressant use during pregnancy range from 6% to 8%.4-7 Several studies have attempted to clarify whether antidepressant exposure in utero increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children. Most of this research has focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).8 Results have largely been conflicting, and whether antidepressant exposure increases the risk of these childhood disorders remains controversial.8 It is possible that confounding by indication of antidepressants for severe depression and by genetic and environmental factors associated with NDDs in children can explain the observed associations.9 Moreover, few studies have considered other specific diagnosed NDDs outside of small, hospital- or clinic-based settings.10 Limited data for intellectual disabilities and motor development are largely inconclusive owing to lack of confounding control and inconsistent measurement of outcomes.11

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