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Prenatal Paternal Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Use and Risk of ADHD in Offspring

Fen Yang1,2, Hong Liang1, Jianping Chen1

  • 1Key Laboratory of National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research (SIPPR), Institute of Reproductive Development (IRD), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; and.

Pediatrics
|December 13, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Paternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) before conception is linked to a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. This association may stem from the conditions for which SSRIs are prescribed.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Psychopharmacology

Background:

  • Maternal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use during pregnancy is a known risk factor for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring.
  • The potential impact of paternal SSRI use on ADHD risk in children remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether paternal SSRI use in the period preceding conception increases the risk of ADHD in offspring.
  • To quantify the association between paternal SSRI exposure and ADHD diagnosis in children.

Main Methods:

  • A large-scale Danish cohort study included 781,470 singletons born between 1996 and 2008, with follow-up data extending to 2013.
  • Children exposed to paternal SSRI use within 3 months before conception were identified.
  • Cox regression analysis was employed to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for ADHD, adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Paternal SSRI use in the 3 months before conception was associated with a 26% increased risk of ADHD in offspring (HR = 1.26).
  • Exposure during the period of 12 to 3 months before conception showed a HR of 1.35, while exposure in the last 3 months yielded a HR of 1.31.
  • A total of 7,216 children were born to fathers using SSRIs before conception, with 12,520 children diagnosed with ADHD.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal SSRI use prior to conception is associated with a mildly increased risk of ADHD in offspring.
  • The observed association may be influenced by the underlying medical conditions necessitating SSRI treatment in fathers.
Abstract

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