Use of antidepressants in the second trimester is associated with reduced pregnancy duration, and third trimester antidepressant use with infant convulsions
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Correspondence to
: Dr Jennifer L Payne
Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; jpayne5{at}jhmi.edu
Commentary on:
Implications for practice and research
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Second trimester exposure to antidepressants was associated with preterm birth.
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Third trimester exposure was associated with infant convulsions.
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The absolute risk for both outcomes is extremely low and most infants will not have these complications.
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Decisions about whether to use antidepressants during pregnancy should include the severity of the mother's psychiatric illness.
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Large studies that include severity of the mother's illness need to be conducted.
Context
Approximately 10–20% of women will meet the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) during their lifetime, including during pregnancy.1 Rates of antidepressant exposure …
