Use of Antidepressant Medication in the United States During Pregnancy, 2002–2010

Abstract

Despite controversy over possible negative effects, prescribing of antidepressants during pregnancy increased between 2002 and 2010. SSRIs represented a smaller proportion of all antidepressants prescribed, and prescribing of paroxetine, likely in response to warnings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dropped dramatically.

Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Is Associated with Decreased Cortisol and Cortisone Levels in Neonatal Hair

“…A total of 67 women visited the POP clinic, of whom 98% reported SAD use, 28% had an elevated HAS score and 16% had an elevated HDS score. For mothers admitted pp for medical reasons in themselves and/or in their infants ( n = 105), these numbers (2, 11 and 8% respectively) were similar to previously reported prevalence rates in the normal population [5-7, 32]. Sex distribution, gestational age, birth weight, parity, maternal age and ethnicity did not differ between the groups.…”

Prenatal antidepressant exposure and the risk of autism spectrum disorders in children. Are we looking at the fall of Gods?

“…Conversely, the rate of use of psychotropic drugs has remained relatively stable between 2006 and 2011. The most commonly used psychotropics during pregnancy are SSRIs (Hanley and Mintzes, 2014;Meunier et al, 2013).…”

Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study: Interpretation and translation for the clinician

“…Moreover, depression in women is most common during childbearing years (Wisner, 1999), with an estimated prevalence of up to 20% in pregnancy (Ryan, 2005). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, continue to be widely used among pregnant women (Mitchell et al, 2011), while controversy regarding the potential risks of use in pregnancy has yet to be resolved (Alwan et al, 2011;Meunier et al, 2013;Huybrechts et al, 2014).…”