Maternal SSRI use during pregnancy may be associated with altered brain development in children; however, this study cannot fully rule out contributions of confounding genetic and enviromental factors.
Functional MRI revealed no differences in brain structure of white matter integrity in lithium-exposed versus non-lithium-exposed children born to mothers with bipolar spectrum disorder.
Two studies - one using neuropsychological assessments, another examining performance on standardized testing - show no association between prenatal antipsychotic exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Analyzing data from nearly 150,000 children with prenatal antidepressant exposure in two healthcare databases, a recent study finds no association between prenatal exposure to antidepressants and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Despite the unequivocal benefits of folic acid supplementation and recommendations urging all women of reproductive age to take folic acid supplements, preconceptual use of folic acid has not increased substantially.
This article reviews the research on the effects of antenatal maternal psychological states on offspring.
Some studies have demonstrated associations between in utero exposure to antidepressants and cognitive outcomes.
These findings are encouraging and suggest that the newer AEDs, specifically lamotrigine and levetiracetam, are not associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
While questions and controversies remain, the information on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children prenatally exposed to antidepressants is largely reassuring.
There is a growing body of literature to indicate that exposure to certain antiepileptic drugs, most notably valproic acid (VPA, Depakote) during critical periods of development may be associated with long-lasting neurodevelopmental deficits.
