COVID-19 and Pregnancy Outcomes: What We Know One Year Later
Over a year ago, we wrote our first post on COVID-19, and it is hard to believe that we are still very much in the midst of a pandemic. Since that time, we have [...]
Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Bipolar Disorder
In treating pregnant women with mood or anxiety disorders, we tend to focus primarily on the reproductive safety of psychotropic medications; however, it must be recognized that withholding or withdrawing pharmacologic treatment for depression or [...]
Postpartum Hemorrhage in Women Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants may affect platelet aggregation and thus may increase the risk of bleeding. Â Several studies have sought to determine if exposure to SSRI antidepressants in late pregnancy is associated with an [...]
In Brief: Higher Thyroid Function During Pregnancy May Negatively Affect Brain Development
It is well established that during pregnancy maternal hypothyroidism may have negative effects on the developing fetal brain. New data presented at the 2015 International Thyroid Congress and Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association [...]
In Brief: Study Finds No Link Between Antipsychotics and Gestational Diabetes
Given the number of younger women using atypical antipsychotic medications, we need more accurate data regarding the reproductive safety of these medications. To better understand the link between antipsychotic medication and medical conditions associated with [...]
PTSD in Veterans Increases Risk of Preterm Birth
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is relatively common among pregnant and postpartum women. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD for women is about 10%. PTSD is most prevalent among women of childbearing age and PTSD symptoms are common during pregnancy. Earlier this year, we reported on a study which observed that women with a diagnosis of PTSD had an increased risk of preterm birth. The risk was particularly high in those women with diagnoses of both PTSD and a major depressive episode; these women had a 4-fold increased risk of preterm birth.
New Research from the CWMH: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Increase Gestational Length
Women with psychiatric disorders represent an at-risk population for premature delivery and other obstetrical complications. This study assesses the association between omega-3 fatty acid use and length of gestation. Â In an unadjusted model, there was [...]
Anti-Epileptic Drugs and Risk of Miscarriage
Do anti-epileptic drugs increase the risk for miscarriage and/or stillbirth? Many reports have demonstrated an association between the use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy and increased risk of congenital malformations and pregnancy complications, including pre-eclampsia, [...]
Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Schizophrenia
With the advent of the newer, atypical antipsychotic medications, patients with psychotic disorders have been able to achieve greater symptom control with less disabling side effects. For women with schizophrenia, there has also been an increase in fertility rates over the last decade. Previous studies have suggested that women with schizophrenia, as compared to women with no psychiatric illness, are at increased risk for pregnancy and delivery complications, including low birthweight, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm birth. However, most of these studies occurred at a time when the women were treated with older antipsychotic medications, and we cannot assume that these findings are relevant now, when women with schizophrenia are more commonly treated with the newer atypical antipsychotics and have much better control of their symptoms.
Women Who Stop SSRIs Prior to Pregnancy Have Same Risk of Miscarriage as Women who elect to Remain on SSRI Antidepressants
Some, but not all, studies have demonstrated an increased risk of miscarriage among women who take antidepressants. However, it has been difficult to determine whether this increased risk was related to exposure to the medication [...]