pregnancy - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Stress During Pregnancy Increases ADHD Risk

While genetic factors are clearly important in determining a child’s risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), recent studies have investigated the link between exposure to certain maternal behaviors during pregnancy, such as smoking and alcohol use, and the risk of developing behavioral problems related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood. While multiple studies have indicated a greater risk of ADHD symptoms among children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, contradictory findings were reported in studies focusing on exposure to alcohol. Results from studies investigating the impact of psychological stress during pregnancy have been inconsistent but suggest a possible contribution to ADHD symptoms int he offspring.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T10:07:59-04:00May 10th, 2008|Anxiety Disorders, Child Outcomes, Depressive Disorders, Long-Term Outcomes, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, PTSD and Stress Related Disorders|Comments Off

Eating Disorders in Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression

The British Medical Journal recently published a brief, but comprehensive review of eating disorders in pregnancy by Veronica Bridget Ward. Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified) most commonly occur in women of reproductive age and may be influenced by pregnancy and its associated weight gain and change in body shape. Some women experience a worsening of eating disorder symptoms, while others improve, or remain unchanged throughout the course of the pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T12:55:07-04:00May 8th, 2008|Eating Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

New Study Does Not Find Link Between Paroxetine and Cardiovascular Defects

In 2006, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) elected to change product label warnings for the antidepressant paroxetine (Paxil), advising against the use of this drug by women who are pregnant. This decision was based on preliminary studies which suggested an increase in the risk of cardiovascular malformations among infants exposed to paroxetine in utero. A recent study from the Motherisk Program in Toronto has reported on the outcomes of over 3000 paroxetine-exposed infants.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T12:19:14-04:00April 23rd, 2008|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Switching Antidepressants After the First Trimester

Q. I am currently talking Remeron for depression. I am about 16 weeks pregnant and doing well. I recently started working with a new psychiatrist, and my new doctor suggested that I switch to Prozac because he thought it would be safer for the baby. I am a little worried about making a change; I have never tried Prozac before and had a bad reaction (horrible anxiety and insomnia) when I tried Lexapro.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T11:50:58-04:00March 31st, 2008|Antidepressants, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

PPHN and SSRIs: New Findings

Over the past few years, multiple reports have raised questions regarding the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants during pregnancy. Chambers and colleagues reported that exposure to SSRIs late in pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). In the general population, PPHN affects about 1 to 2 per 1000 live births. Infants with PPHN are typically full-term or near-term and present shortly after delivery with severe respiratory distress. In the worst cases, PPHN requires intubation and mechanical ventilation and may result in long-term morbidity. In 2006, Chambers and colleagues published an article linking SSRI use during late pregnancy to an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn. Based on the results of this analysis, the authors estimated the risk of PPHN to be about 1% in infants exposed to SSRIs late in pregnancy (after 20 weeks).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T11:42:51-04:00March 31st, 2008|Antidepressants, Neonatal Symptoms, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

SSRIs and Pregnancy: Evaluating New Reproductive Safety Data

Over the past 15 years, multiple studies have addressed the reproductive safety of various antidepressants. Data on the overall teratogenicity of SSRIs has come from relatively small prospective observational studies, larger international birth registries, managed health care databases, and case series; these data have cumulatively supported the reproductive safety of fluoxetine and certain other SSRIs. In a recent meta-analysis including 1774 antidepressant-exposed infants, first trimester exposure to SSRIs was not associated with an increased risk of major malformations above the baseline of 2%-3% seen in the general population (Einarson & Einarson, 2005). The bulk of the data thus far has suggested that SSRIs are not major teratogens; however, concerns about the potential teratogenicity of SSRIs were first raised in 2005 when several preliminary studies suggested that paroxetine may be associated with a small increase in risk of congenital abnormalities.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:55:05-04:00March 31st, 2008|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Untreated Maternal Depression: What is the Impact on the Unborn Child?

Depression during pregnancy is common. While concerns have been raised regarding the potential teratogenic and long-term neurobehavioral effects of psychotropic drug use during pregnancy, what is often overlooked is the fact that untreated maternal depression may also put the unborn baby at risk.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:52:05-04:00March 27th, 2008|Anxiety Disorders, Child Outcomes, Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy: Should Medications Be Discontinued?

As many of the traditional mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder, including lithium and valproic acid, carry some teratogenic risk and the reproductive safety of other medications, including the atypical antipsychotic agents, has not been well-characterized, many women with bipolar disorder decide to discontinue their treatment during pregnancy. A new study from Dr. Adele Viguera and her colleagues at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Emory University School of Medicine helps to better define the risks associated with discontinuing treatment during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:38:38-04:00March 7th, 2008|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Bipolar Disorder, Child Outcomes, Mood Stabilizers, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Depression is More Common in Women with High Risk Pregnancies

Epidemiologic studies suggest that about 10% to 15% of women suffer from clinically significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Little is known, however, about the prevalence of depression among women with high risk pregnancies. A recent study published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that this population may be at significant risk for antenatal depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:36:02-04:00March 6th, 2008|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Medication Changes During Pregnancy

At our clinic we have the opportunity to see patients at various stages of pregnancy. When we evaluate a patient while she is still in the planning stages, we may recommend changing medications to those that have a better studied safety profile during pregnancy and see how she does on those medications prior to conception. If that same patient came into our clinic for an evaluation, but was already pregnant, we may make different recommendations than if she was in the planning stages.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:08:23-04:00February 28th, 2008|Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off