The mother, the infant and the mother-infant relationship: What is the impact of antidepressant medication in pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Both antidepressant use and depression in pregnancy have the potential to impact on outcomes for the women, their mother-infant relationship and their infants. Methods: Data were obtained from 485 pregnant women within Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study, a pregnancy cohort study. The sampling frame was in three groups: those depressed women taking antidepressants in pregnancy, women with diagnosed depression not taking an antidepressant and control women. Depression was measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and repeat Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and antidepressant use by repeat self-report, hospital records and blood levels. In addition, ..