title: Neurobehavioral assessment of infants born at term and in utero exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some studies report neurobehavioral symptoms in neonates exposed to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) in utero. However, maternal psychiatric illness during the last trimester of pregnancy, as a confounding factor, has not always been assessed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this prospective study we compared neurobehavioral complications among neonates who were born to euthymic women who either took or did not take an SRI during the last trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exposed and unexposed infants were assessed for: 1) temperament as measured by the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS); 2) activity via Actiwatch electronic monitoring; 3) sleep state using trained observer ratings; and 4) perinatal complications through medical record review. T-tests, Fisher's exact tests, and analyses of covariance were used to assess the relationship between clinical and neurobehavioral factors and exposure status.
  
  
  METHODS
  67 infants (61 controls and 6 exposed to SRIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal Assessment Behavioral Scale, APGAR scores, infant sleep state (% sleep, % wakeful), startles and tremulousness, gestational age, birth weight, and head circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants exposed to SRIs in the third trimester had poorer motor development, lower 5-minute APGAR scores, and shorter mean gestational age as compared to unexposed infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study show differences in autonomic and gross motor activity between neonates who were or were not exposed to SRIs in utero after controlling for active maternal psychiatric illness. Future longitudinal work should compare longer term outcomes of exposed and unexposed infants of depressed mothers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. megan.smith@yale.edu
authors.forename: Megan V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Bhavesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayes
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Yonkers
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors