In Brief: Treating Mom’s Depression Benefits Her Children
When a mother is depressed, her children are more likely to show symptoms of depression or anxiety. A study published in this month's American Journal of Psychiatry has demonstrated that treatment of the mother's depression with the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) was associated with improvement in their children's symptoms of depression. In this randomized double-blind trial, 76 depressed mothers received escitalopram, bupropion, or the combination of the two for 12 weeks. The [...]
Misconceptions of Miscarriage May Lead to Psychological Distress
While miscarriages are a relatively common event, affecting about 20% of pregnancies, a new survey indicates that women have many misconceptions about miscarriage and its causes. One of the more concerning findings in this study was the number of women who experience significant psychological distress in this setting. The survey found that 47% of the respondents felt guilty about the loss, and 41% felt they had done something to cause the [...]
You Asked: Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Pregnancy
While gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings — for epilepsy, pain management, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and sleep disturbance – there is relatively little information regarding its reproductive safety. Most recently, a prospective study from researchers at the Motherisk program reports on the outcomes of 223 pregnancies exposed to gabapentin and 223 unexposed pregnancies. In this study, the rates of major malformations were similar in the [...]
Prenatal Cocaine Exposure and Its Effect on the Developing Brain
Prenatal cocaine exposure or PCE occurs when a child is exposed in utero to cocaine taken by the pregnant mother. We know that cocaine exposure during pregnancy can negatively affect the pregnancy; women who use cocaine during pregnancy are at increased risk for preterm delivery and low birthweight. We know much less about the effects of cocaine on the developing fetal brain. Information on the long-term effects of PCE has been [...]
Childhood Sexual Abuse and Risk for Perinatal Depression
Various studies have observed an association between history of abuse and increased risk for perinatal depression. The data regarding childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in particular have been less consistent. A recent review of the literature attempts to better understand the relationship between CSA and risk for depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The findings suggest that a history of childhood sexual abuse may be more strongly associated with depression or depressive [...]
SSRIs and Pregnancy: No Increase in Risk of Malformations
Over the last few years, we have reported on several studies which have suggested an increased risk of certain types of cardiovascular malformations among children exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy. The first reports suggested a link between cardiac septal defects and exposure to paroxetine; other, but not all, studies have also shown an elevated risk of cardiac defects in children with prenatal exposure to other SSRIs. Many of these [...]