title: Does fetal exposure to SSRIs or maternal depression impact infant growth?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the growth of infants born to women with antenatal major depressive disorder, either untreated or treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, and infants born to a nondepressed, nonmedicated comparison group across the first year of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational study, pregnant women were evaluated at weeks 20, 30, and 36 of gestation, and mother and infant pairs were assessed at 2, 12, 26, and 52 weeks postpartum. Three nonoverlapping groups of women were defined according to their pregnancy exposures: 1) no SSRI and no depression (N=97), 2) SSRI (N=46), and 3) major depression without SSRI (N=31). Maternal demographic and clinical characteristics and newborn outcomes were compared across exposure groups. Infant weight, length, and head circumference were measured by a physician or physician's assistant who was blind to depression and SSRI exposure status at each postpartum time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both adjusted and unadjusted analyses revealed neither antenatal major depression nor SSRI exposure was significantly associated with infant weight, length, or head circumference relative to nonexposure to either. In addition, the interaction of group and prepregnancy body mass index was also evaluated, and no significant synergistic effect was identified. Similarly, no differential effect of group over time was observed for weight, length, or head circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In utero exposure to major depression or SSRI antidepressants did not affect infant growth with respect to weight, length, or head circumference from birth through 12 months of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, USA. katherine.wisner@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wisner
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bogen
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sit
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McShea
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Confer
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors