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Women's Health
Expectant mothers can rest easier about taking antidepressants
- By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Research we’re watching
Some new research findings offer reassurance for pregnant women who take antidepressants. The large, far-reaching analysis found no indication that these drugs could interfere with their child’s future brain development or behavior.
The study, published online Oct. 3, 2022, by JAMA Internal Medicine, compared data from nearly 146,000 women who took antidepressants when pregnant with data from more than three million women who did not take these drugs during pregnancy. Researchers tracked the children’s health for up to 14 years. Unlike older studies — whose results were considered limited by various factors — the new analysis indicated antidepressant use during pregnancy wasn’t linked to autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behavior disorders, or problems with speech, language, learning, or coordination.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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