Goodbye 2016: The Year in Review
Happy New Year! It is that time of the year again when we take the time to look back and review the previous year. Probably the most striking thing I see is the sheer volume [...]
CBT for Depression During Pregnancy: Good for Moms, Good for Babies
Australian researchers have developed a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment intervention for antenatal depression and anxiety. Beating the Blues Before Birth, to be delivered as individual therapy, was adapted from a 12-session group intervention for [...]
Pilot Study: Treatment of Antenatal Depression Associated with Improved Infant Outcomes
About 10% to 15% of women experience clinically significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Many studies have shown exposure to maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy may be associated with various outcomes in the child, including [...]
Understanding the Link Between Maternal Diet, Depression and Child Development
While the human brain continues develop throughout the first twenty or so years of life, the most vulnerable periods of brain development occur during pregnancy and the first 2 to 3 years of the child’s [...]
Good News: New Studies Show No Association Between Antidepressants and Risk of Autism
Two recent epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; Croen et al 2011, Rai et al, 2013). One important imitation of these two studies is that parental psychiatric disorder in itself is associated with an increased risk of ASD in the offspring, and these studies could not distinguish between the effects of drug exposure and the consequences of the underlying maternal psychiatric illness. Two new studies shed light on the association between prenatal antidepressant exposure and risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring.
Mild to Moderate Iodine Deficiency in Pregnancy Associated with Lower Cognitive Functioning
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis. We have known for a long time that severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy may affect the cognitive development of the unborn child. According to a recent Lancet study, even children born to women with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency during pregnancy are at increased risk for lower IQ and reading ability (assessed at age 9). The most severe effects were observed among children born to women with severe deficiency (<50 mcg/g iodine:creatinine ratio).
Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants and Risk of Autism
It is estimated that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect about 1% to 2% of children. Research carried out in twins and families indicate that ASD is highly heritable; however, it is generally believed that while genetic factors play an important role, there is an interplay between genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of this disorder. Various environmental exposures have been implicated, including vaccinations, mercury, air pollution, insecticides, and infection.
Valproic Acid and Pregnancy: FDA Issues Warning
There have been multiple recent reports indicating that the use of valproate during pregnancy may be associated with lower IQ, cognitive problems, and developmental delays in exposed children. This has prompted the FDA to issue a warning regarding the use of valproate-containing drugs, including Depakote and Depakene, during pregnancy:
No Increase in Risk of Infant Mortality in Women Taking SSRIs During Pregnancy
While there has been a great deal of attention paid to the risks of exposure to antidepressants, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), during pregnancy, there has been comparatively little information on the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality in this population. In a recent population-based cohort study utilizing data from all Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), researchers assessed the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality associated with the use of SSRIs during pregnancy.
Duloxetine and Pregnancy: Preliminary Data
Duloxetine (sold in the United Sates under the brand name of Cymbalta) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) effective for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Although used fairly commonly in women of child-bearing age, information regarding its reproductive safety has been lacking.