Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
Published on: May 17, 2024
Antidepressant use during pregnancy and childhood cancer in the offspring
Natalie C Momen1, Trine Munk-Olsen2,3, Jiong Li1
1Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
Antidepressant use during pregnancy did not significantly increase the risk of childhood cancer. This large study found no increased risk for childhood cancer, including leukemia or nervous system tumors, with prenatal antidepressant exposure.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Oncology
- Pharmacovigilance
Background:
- Antidepressant use during pregnancy has risen, prompting concerns about potential risks to child development.
- Understanding the safety profile of antidepressants during gestation is crucial for clinical practice and public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to antidepressants and the risk of developing childhood cancer.
- To determine if in utero exposure to antidepressants influences the incidence of specific childhood cancers like leukemia or nervous system tumors.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study utilized Danish national registers, including 915,128 liveborn singletons from 1998-2012.
- Children were categorized into unexposed, prior antidepressant user, and in-utero antidepressant user groups.
- Cancer risk was assessed using Cox regression, with follow-up until cancer diagnosis, death, emigration, or end of 2012.
Main Results:
- A total of 1298 children (0.1%) were diagnosed with cancer during the follow-up period.
- Antidepressant use during pregnancy showed no significant association with an increased risk of overall childhood cancer (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.63-1.68).
- No increased risk was observed for leukemia or nervous system tumors in children exposed to antidepressants in utero, regardless of drug type or duration.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal exposure to antidepressants is not significantly associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer.
- The findings provide reassurance regarding the use of antidepressants during pregnancy concerning childhood cancer risk.
- Further research may explore long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in relation to prenatal antidepressant exposure.
Purpose:
Antidepressant use during pregnancy has been increasing in recent years. We evaluated whether in utero exposure to antidepressants increased the risk of childhood cancer.
Methods:
This population-based cohort study using national registers in Denmark comprised 915 128 liveborn singletons during 1998-2012. We categorised children into three mutually exclusive exposure groups according to maternal redemption of an antidepressant prescription from 2 years before pregnancy until delivery of the index child: Unexposed (N = 863 033), prior user (use before but not during pregnancy) (N = 30 607), and use during pregnancy (N = 21 488). The children were followed from birth until first diagnosis of cancer, death, emigration, or December 31, 2012, whichever came first. The children were followed maximum 14.9 years and contributed to 6.9 × 106 person-years at risk. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of cancer using Cox regression with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
In total, 1298 (0.1%) children were diagnosed with cancer. Antidepressant use during pregnancy was not associated with a significantly increased risk of childhood cancer in general; the HR was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.63-1.68), compared to children born by mothers who discontinued antidepressant use prior to pregnancy. The association between in utero exposure to antidepressants and childhood cancer did not depend on type or duration of antidepressant use. There was no strong evidence indicating a higher risk of leukaemia or nervous system tumours among children exposed to antidepressants in utero.
Conclusion:
Antidepressant use during pregnancy was not significantly associated with childhood cancer in general nor with leukaemia or nervous system tumours in specific.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
01:25Antidepressant Drugs: Overview
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer