Use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy: a multisite study.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to provide information on the prevalence of use of antidepressant drugs among pregnant women in the United States.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted using the automated databases of 7 health plans. Women who delivered an infant in a hospital were identified. Antidepressant drug use was evaluated assuming a gestational duration of 270 days.


RESULTS
Among the 118,935 deliveries occurring from 2001-2005, 6.6% of women were dispensed an antidepressant during pregnancy. Antidepressant drug use increased from 2.0% in 1996 to 7.6% of deliveries in 2004 and 2005. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use increased from 1.5% in 1996 to 6.4% in 2004 and 6.2% in 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding that nearly 8% of pregnant women were prescribed antidepressants drugs during the years 2004 and 2005 highlights the importance of understanding the effects of these medications on the developing fetus and on the pregnant woman.
Andrade
Susan E
SE
Meyers Primary Care Institute, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. sandrade@meyersprimary.org
Raebel
Marsha A
MA
Brown
Jeffrey
J
Lane
Kimberly
K
Livingston
James
J
Boudreau
Denise
D
Rolnick
Sharon J
SJ
Roblin
Douglas
D
Smith
David H
DH
Willy
Mary E
ME
Staffa
Judy A
JA
Platt
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors