title: Living with uncertainty: antidepressants and pregnancy.
abstract: There have been a large number of studies in recent years reporting on the reproductive safety of antidepressant medication. Some studies, but not all, have reported an association of antidepressant exposure in pregnancy and the subsequent development of autism spectrum disorders. It remains difficult to know whether the modest increase in risk is due to the medication, to the mood disorder itself, or to other confounding factors. For any individual woman the decision to commence or continue antidepressant medication in pregnancy must be made after a full consideration of the potential risks and benefits of all options, including non-pharmacological treatments. In making these difficult decisions it is important to recognise that episodes of severe psychiatric illness may have very serious negative consequences for the woman, her baby and her family, and these must be weighed against what is known about the risks of taking medication.
authors.affiliation: Ian Jones, MRCPsych, PhD, Vice-Chair, Section of Perinatal Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University; Liz McDonald, MRCPsych, Chair, Section of Perinatal Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and East London NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Ian Jones, MRCPsych, PhD, Vice-Chair, Section of Perinatal Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University; Liz McDonald, MRCPsych, Chair, Section of Perinatal Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and East London NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors