Prenatal exposure to antidepressant medications and neurodevelopmental outcomes: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: In weighing the risk and benefits of pharmacological treatment of depression during pregnancy it is important to consider risks of long-term as well as short-term implications for children from exposure. Hence, this article examines the evidence to date of studies which have examined longer-term neurodevelopment teratogenic effects on child outcomes (including cognitive, motor and behavioral outcome measures) following in utero exposure to antidepressants. Method: A systematic review of published literature between January, 1973 and February, 2010 was conducted using the following key-words: pregnancy, child/infant development/neurodevelopment, antidepressants. All studies (N = 12..