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.
Our data regarding prenatal exposure to BZDs and/or z-drugs and risk of neurodevelopmental outcomes is still sparse.
Prenatal exposure to antipsychotic medications was not associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring.
Prenatal exposure to valproic acid was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in exposed children.
This article reviews the research on the effects of antenatal maternal psychological states on offspring.
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.
A recent study from Rommel and colleagues looks at risk for affective illness up to 18 years of age in children with prenatal exposure to antidepressants.
Infants exposed to maternal depression during pregnancy had significantly larger subcortical grey matter volumes and smaller midbrain volumes.
