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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

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Behavior and inhibitory control in children with prenatal exposure to antidepressants and medically untreated

Tone Kristine Hermansen1, Espen Røysamb2,3, Else-Marie Augusti2

  • 1The Cognitive Developmental Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3a, 0373, Oslo, Norway. t.k.hermansen@psykologi.uio.no.

Psychopharmacology
|March 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or untreated depression in mothers did not affect child cognition. However, both exposures were linked to increased behavioral problems in children.

Area of Science:

  • Child development
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Maternal depression is a significant concern during pregnancy.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed for depression.
  • Understanding the impact of prenatal exposure to SSRIs and maternal depression on child development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate child development outcomes after prenatal exposure to maternal SSRI use, untreated depression, or no exposure.
  • To compare cognitive abilities and behavioral problems in 5-6-year-old children across these exposure groups.

Main Methods:

  • Cognitive abilities assessed using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-r), NEPSY-II, and Attention Network Test.
  • Child behavioral problems evaluated via maternal reports using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
  • Comparative analysis using analyses of variance (ANOVA).

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in general cognition or inhibition were found between groups.
  • Prenatal exposure to both SSRIs and maternal depression was associated with increased externalizing behavioral problems.
  • Prenatal SSRI exposure was also linked to increased internalizing behavioral problems.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to maternal depression or SSRIs does not appear to impact general cognition or inhibition in children by age 5-6.
  • Both SSRI and depression exposure are associated with negative behavioral outcomes, specifically externalizing problems.
  • SSRI exposure shows an additional association with internalizing problems, suggesting complex developmental effects.
Abstract

Keywords:
Attention network testChild behaviorInhibitionPrenatal SSRI exposureThe Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

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