Child Development Following Exposure to Tricyclic Antidepressants or Fluoxetine Throughout Fetal Life: A Prospective, Controlled Study

Abstract

Exposure to tricyclic antidepressants or fluoxetine throughout gestation does not appear to adversely affect cognition, language development, or the temperament of preschool and early-school children. In contrast, mothers' depression is associated with less cognitive and language achievement by their children. When needed, adequate antidepressant therapy should be instituted and maintained during pregnancy and postpartum.

World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders – First Revision

“…The findings of a prospective controlled study suggest that long-term prenatal exposure to tricyclic antidepressants or fluoxetine does not adversely affect cognition, language development or temperament (Nulman et al 2002).…”

Maternal depression and child development

“…Nulman et al (60) compared 46 children of mothers treated with a tricyclic antidepressant during pregnancy, 40 children of mothers treated with fluoxetine and 36 control children of nondepressed mothers who did not take any medication during pregnancy. After adjusting for the duration and severity of maternal depression, duration of treatment, number of depressive episodes after delivery, maternal IQ and socioeconomic status, the study showed that tricyclic antidepressants and fluoxetine had no adverse effects on the global IQ, language development or behaviour of children between 15 and 71 months of age (60). In a smaller sample, Casper et al (61) compared 13 children born to depressed mothers who elected not to take medication during pregnancy and 31 children born to mothers treated with SSRIs.…”

Medications for Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder During Pregnancy

“…Little research has been conducted into the effect of prenatal SSRI exposure on postnatal behavioral development. Nulman et al 21 assessed the effect of prenatal exposure to fluoxetine on postnatal development. The mean global IQ score for children who were exposed to fluoxetine was 117, and 114 in the control group.…”