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The effects of antenatal depression and SSRI exposure on children: A systematic review

Rubina Fray Gogolu1, Alexander Tobias Ysbæk-Nielsen1, Jon Lansner1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|September 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal depression (AD) and prenatal SSRI exposure may impact child development, causing behavioral and neurological differences. Disentangling these effects is challenging due to study limitations, necessitating further research.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Perinatal Psychiatry

Background:

  • Antenatal depression (AD) affects 7%-13% of pregnant women, posing risks to maternal and child well-being.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are common treatments for AD, but their distinct developmental effects are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the behavioral and neurological consequences of AD and in utero SSRI exposure on child development.
  • To differentiate the effects of AD alone versus AD with prenatal SSRI exposure on developmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of four major databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus) was performed.
  • Studies were selected based on the PICO framework, comparing children with AD-only exposure to those with AD and in utero SSRI exposure (AD + SSRI).
  • 14 articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Both AD-only and AD + SSRI exposure were associated with altered corticolimbic systems, language delays, and increased internalizing/externalizing problems compared to controls.
  • AD + SSRI exposure was specifically linked to corticothalamic system alterations and impaired psychomotor functioning.
  • AD-only exposure showed steeper white matter volume increases and lower infant arousal scores. No significant differences were found in attention or interference suppression across groups.

Conclusions:

  • Both antenatal depression and prenatal SSRI exposure can influence child development, but their specific impacts are difficult to isolate.
  • Observational study limitations and confounding factors highlight the need for more rigorous research to clarify these developmental effects.
  • Further investigation is crucial to understand the distinct contributions of AD and SSRIs to child developmental outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
antenatal depressionchild developmentneurobehavioralreviewselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

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