Follow-up of children of depressed mothers exposed or not exposed to antidepressant drugs during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the structural growth and developmental outcome of children born to mothers diagnosed with major depressive disorder during pregnancy who were exposed or not exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in utero.


METHODS
Children whose mothers were diagnosed with major depressive disorder in pregnancy and elected not to take medication (n = 13) were compared with children of depressed mothers treated with SSRIs (n = 31) on birth outcomes and postnatal neurodevelopmental functioning between ages 6 and 40 months. Children underwent blinded standardized pediatric and dysmorphology examinations and evaluations of their mental and psychomotor development with the use of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID II).


RESULTS
The Bayley mental developmental indexes were similar in both groups. Children exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy had lower APGAR scores and scored lower on the Bayley psychomotor development indexes and the motor quality factor of the Bayley Behavioral Rating Scale than unexposed children.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings that SSRIs during fetal development might have subtle effects on motor development and motor control are consistent with the pharmacologic properties of the drugs.
Casper
Regina C
RC
Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5723, USA. rcasper@stanford.edu
Fleisher
Barry E
BE
Lee-Ancajas
Julie C
JC
Gilles
Allyson
A
Gaylor
Erika
E
DeBattista
Anne
A
Hoyme
H Eugene
HE
D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors