title: Negative impact of non-evidence-based information received by women taking antidepressants during pregnancy from health care providers and others.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of antidepressants by women during pregnancy continues to be a controversial subject, with conflicting information regarding the safety of this group of drugs. We sought (1) to determine the impact of information, advice, and comments women received from health care providers, family, and media about use of antidepressants during pregnancy, and (2) to compare experiences regarding the psychosocial impact of women who continued and discontinued antidepressant therapy during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who had taken an antidepressant at some point during pregnancy were interviewed. The responses of women who continued antidepressant therapy throughout pregnancy were compared with those of women who discontinued therapy at some point in the pregnancy. A questionnaire with questions pertaining to information women had received from various individuals regarding the use of an antidepressant while pregnant was administered to both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-four interviews were completed; 78 were with women who continued antidepressant therapy throughout pregnancy, and 16 were with women who discontinued therapy. The small number of women in the discontinuation group was a result of many women declining to participate. More than one half of the women who continued the medication throughout pregnancy had frequently considered discontinuing, despite reassurance that continuation would cause no harm to their baby. Negative information was recalled far more often than reassuring information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information from friends, family, and health care providers can have a negative impact on decision-making regarding pharmacotherapy for depression during pregnancy. Health care providers should be cognizant of this when counselling patients who require antidepressant therapy during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: The Motherisk Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.affiliation: The Motherisk Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gawley
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: The Motherisk Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Einarson
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards*; D003657:Decision Making; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009864:Ontario; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012525:Saskatchewan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents