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Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and non-verbal cognitive functioning in childhood

Hanan El Marroun1,2, Tonya J White1,3, Guillen Fernandez4

  • 11 The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|September 15, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or maternal depression did not significantly impact child non-verbal cognition. This study found no major long-term neurodevelopmental consequences in children exposed prenatally to SSRIs or maternal depressive symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed during pregnancy.
  • The long-term effects of prenatal SSRI exposure on child neurodevelopment remain a subject of debate.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for maternal and child health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal SSRI exposure and childhood non-verbal cognition.
  • To compare the effects of prenatal SSRI exposure with exposure to maternal depressive symptoms.
  • To assess neurodevelopmental outcomes at multiple time points in childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, population-based study involving 71 children exposed to SSRIs, 385 to maternal depressive symptoms, and 5427 unexposed children.
  • Assessment of executive functioning via maternal report at 4 years.
  • Measurement of non-verbal intelligence at 5 years and neuropsychological function at 7 years.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal SSRI exposure showed no significant relationship with executive function at 4 years, non-verbal intelligence at 5 years, or neuropsychological function at 7 years.
  • Exposure to untreated maternal depressive symptoms was linked to executive function issues (shifting, emotional control) at 4 years.
  • No significant associations were found between prenatal exposure to depressive symptoms and observed non-verbal IQ or neuropsychological function at later ages.

Conclusions:

  • Neither SSRI use nor untreated maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy appear to have a substantial impact on a child's non-verbal cognitive development.
  • The findings suggest that prenatal exposure to SSRIs may not lead to major long-term neurodevelopmental deficits in non-verbal cognition.
  • Maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be associated with early executive function challenges, but not with later observed cognitive abilities.

Keywords:
Antidepressantschild psychiatrydepressionepidemiologywomen

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