title: Effects of maternal psychotropic drug dosage on birth outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the relationship between psychotropic medication dosage and birth outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 136 women were enrolled, who had an active mental disorder, were taking medication to prevent a relapse, or had a history of postpartum depression or psychosis. Medication use was evaluated for the three trimesters and during labor. Based on the defined daily dose, medication use was classified into three groups. Primary outcome variables included the infant gestational age at birth, birth weight, and Apgar scores at one and 5 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study showed a significantly higher incidence of Apgar score ≤7 at 5 minutes in women taking psychotropic drugs as compared with the group taking no medication, respectively (16.3% versus 0.0%, P=0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in Apgar score at one minute or in gestational age and birth weight. The results showed no significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, or Apgar scores for a low-intermediate or high dose of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and for a low or intermediate dose of an antipsychotic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study does not indicate a relationship between doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antipsychotics and adverse neonatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venlo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.affiliation: Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venlo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank Mma
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: van der Heijden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, VieCuri Medical Centre, Venlo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paddy Kc
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venlo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harold Jh
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
keywords: birth outcomes; dosage; pregnancy; psychotropic medication