TY - JOUR T1 - Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in late pregnancy increases the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, but the absolute risk is low JF - Evidence Based Nursing JO - Evid Based Nurs SP - 15 LP - 16 DO - 10.1136/eb-2014-101786 VL - 18 IS - 1 AU - Nancy Byatt AU - Marlene P Freeman Y1 - 2015/01/01 UR - http://ebn.bmj.com/content/18/1/15.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Grigoriadis S, Vonderporten EH, Mamisashvili L, et al. Prenatal exposure to antidepressants and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2014;348:f6932.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) is rare and, despite a small increased risk when selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used in late pregnancy, the absolute risk of PPHN remains low. Considering the risk of relapse into depression, the available evidence does not support discontinuation of SSRIs during pregnancy due to concerns about PPHN. Future research needs to consistently either examine or control for factors that may be associated with PPHN, including treatments for underlying maternal psychiatric illness. Depression in pregnancy is common and has adverse effects on birth outcomes, mother–infant attachment, and the behaviour and development of infants and children.1–4 While effective … ER -