There is evidence that depression itself can increase risk for preeclampsia. In women with more severe depression, treatment with an SSRI antidepressant may decrease risk.
In this prospective cohort study, the researchers observed an association between maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy with slower rates of fetal growth.
The current study observed no significant differences in overall developmental outcomes or behavior in exposed versus unexposed children.
More study is needed regarding the safety of sedative-hypnotic medications during pregnancy.
In this large cohort study analyzing data from publicly insured Medicaid beneficiaries, the overall risk of malformations was lower with buprenorphine than with methadone.
Women who experienced depression during pregnancy were about four times as likely to experience PPD compared to women with no depression during pregnancy, with greater risk associated with depression during the first and third trimesters.
At 7 years of age, children exposed to maternal depression during pregnancy or SSRI antidepressants exhibited similar changes in white matter architecture.
Postpartum SSRI treatment mitigated the negative associations between PPD and later maternal depression, partner relationship satisfaction, and child externalizing problems and ADHD symptoms up to 5 years after childbirth.
The largest GWAS study to date provides evidence that despite a high correlation with MDD, PPD may have unique genetic components.
Understanding important differences between men and women in terms of response to antipsychotic medications is essential to improving outcomes and decreasing risk for side effects.
