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Prenatal antidepressant exposure and behavioral problems in early childhood--a cohort study
L H Pedersen1, T B Henriksen, B H Bech
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus N, Denmark. LHP@dadlnet.dk
Insights
Prenatal antidepressant exposure did not correlate with childhood behavioral issues. However, untreated prenatal depression was linked to conduct and prosocial problems in children, a finding that lessened after accounting for postnatal maternal mental health.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Psychiatry
- Child Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Maternal mental health during pregnancy is a significant concern.
- The impact of antidepressant use during gestation on child development requires thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal antidepressant exposure and behavioral problems in early childhood.
- To compare outcomes between children exposed to antidepressants in utero, those with untreated prenatal depression, and unexposed children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Danish National Birth Cohort.
- Assessed behavioral problems using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in children aged 4-5 years.
- Compared three groups: prenatal antidepressant exposure, untreated prenatal depression, and unexposed controls.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between prenatal antidepressant exposure and abnormal SDQ scores.
- Untreated prenatal depression was associated with increased conduct and prosocial problems compared to unexposed children.
- These associations were attenuated after adjusting for postnatal maternal psychiatric disease.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal antidepressant exposure is not linked to behavioral or emotional problems in early childhood.
- Untreated maternal depression during pregnancy may pose a risk for behavioral issues in offspring.
Objective:
To estimate a potential association between in utero exposure to antidepressants and behavioral problems in childhood.
Method:
Information on exposures was obtained from the Danish National Birth Cohort. We studied the children of 127 mothers who had used antidepressants during pregnancy and compared these to 98 children of mothers with a prenatal depression with no use of antidepressants during pregnancy and 723 children of mothers with no prenatal depression and no use of antidepressant during pregnancy (unexposed). Behavioral problems were assessed at 4 or 5 years of age by the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Results:
Prenatal antidepressant exposure was not associated with abnormal SDQ scores compared with prenatal exposure to untreated prenatal depression or to no exposure. Untreated prenatal depression was associated with abnormal SDQ scores in the subscales of conduct [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.3 (95% CI, 1.2-4.5)] and prosocial problems [aOR 3.0 (95% CI, 1.2-7.8)] compared with unexposed children. Total SDQ score was higher in children of mothers with untreated prenatal depression. These associations attenuated after adjusting for postnatal maternal psychiatric disease.
Conclusion:
Prenatal antidepressant exposure was not associated with behavioral or emotional problems in early childhood.
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