Fetal exposure to antidepressants and normal milestone development at 6 and 19 months of age
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The goal was to investigate a possible association between exposure to antidepressants in utero and developmental milestones in early childhood. METHODS: Information on pregnancy exposures and developmental milestones at 6 and 19 months was obtained from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Of the eligible pregnant women, 415 used antidepressant medication, 489 reported depression with no medical treatment, and 81 042 reported no depression and no use of psychotropic medication. RESULTS: Children with second- or third-trimester exposure to antidepressants were able to sit 15.9 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.8–25.0) and to walk 28.9 days (95% CI: 15.0–42.7) later than children of women not exposed to antidepressants but still were within the normal range of development. Fewer children with second- or third-trimester exposure to antidepressants were able to sit without support at 6 months of age (odds ratio: 2.1 [95% CI: 1.23–3.60]), and fewer were able to occupy themselves at 19 months of age (odds ratio: 2.1 [95% CI: 1.09–4.02]). None of the other milestones measured showed statistically significant associations with antidepressant exposure. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest a permanent or reversible effect of antidepressant exposure on fetal brain development, which may depend on the timing of exposure during pregnancy.
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Earlier work has linked prenatal SSRIs to particular DD types, such as motor and speech/language delays.
“Previous studies have observed associations between prenatal SSRI exposure and specific types of DD, including motor (32, 59) and speech/language delays (57).”
From Maternal Psychiatric Conditions, Treatment With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [59]
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- Authors
- Pedersen, L. H., Henriksen, T. B., & Olsen, J.
- Affiliations
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Aarhus University Hospital (DK)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Venue
- Pediatrics
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Published
- 2010-03-01
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- e600-e608
- ISSN
- 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-4275
- OpenAlex
- W2072992689
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 18.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Research Foundation
- Lundbeckfonden
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy and Medication Impact
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- prenatal antidepressant exposure, fetal brain development, developmental milestones, motor development, walking, maternal depression, child development
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Antidepressive Agents, Brain, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Prospective Studies
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