Serotonin reuptake inhibitor use in pregnancy and the neonatal behavioral syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the severity of neonatal behavioral syndrome (NBS) in infants of serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI)-treated pregnancies, compared with infants of women with psychiatric illness not treated with medication.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnancies followed in a prenatal clinic for women with psychiatric illness. Infants of women who received SRI medication through delivery (SRI-treated) were compared with those who did not receive treatment or discontinued medication before the last month of pregnancy (SRI-untreated). NBS was defined as one or more of the following: jitteriness, irritability, lethargy, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, apnea, respiratory distress, vomiting, poor feeding, or hypoglycemia.


RESULTS
Findings of NBS were identified in 28% of 46 SRI-treated pregnancies and 17% of 59 untreated pregnancies. There were no differences in rates of prematurity (4% vs. 7%), fetal growth restriction (6% vs. 2%), transfer to a higher nursery for NBS (11% vs. 10%), respiratory abnormality (7% vs. 5%), or hospitalization duration among infants with NBS findings (2 vs. 6 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of NBS were identified in 28% of SRI-exposed neonates. However, these infants were not more likely than unexposed infants to be admitted to a higher nursery, experience respiratory abnormalities, or have prolonged hospitalization.
Jordan
Allison E
AE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9032, USA.
Jackson
Gregory L
GL
Deardorff
Daralynn
D
Shivakumar
Geetha
G
McIntire
Donald D
DD
Dashe
Jodi S
JS
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors