Maternal Depression, SSRI Use, and Child Brain Trajectories

Maternal depression in pregnancy is common, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed antidepressant medications used for its treatment. Preclinical studies have shown that gestational SSRI exposure may be adversely associated with offspring brain and behavioral development. In human populations, however, the effects of untreated maternal depression in pregnancy are of equal concern, and while SSRIs are considered generally safe, weighing the risks of medication exposure to the fetus vs the risk of maternal depression has remained a complex puzzle.
Source: JAMA Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research