Antidepressant Use during Pregnancy may Increase Risk of Preterm Birth

A recent study shows that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy could potentially increase the risk of preterm birth. According to researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Vanderbilt University, MetroWest Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center, they discovered that these medications should not be used by pregnant women unless absolutely necessary.

"Preterm birth is a major clinical problem throughout the world and rates have been increasing over the past two decades.  At the same time, rates of antidepressant use during pregnancy have increased approximately four-fold," said lead author Krista Huybrechts, MS PhD, from the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, via a press release. "Therefore it is essential to determine what effects these medications have on pregnancy."

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies that evaluated who took antidepressants during pregnancy and who had information regarding gestational age of birth.

Findings showed the following, courtesy of the release:

"We studied 41 papers on this topic and found that the available scientific evidence is becoming clearer that antidepressant use in pregnancy is associated with preterm birth," said senior author Adam Urato, MD, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Tufts Medical Center and MetroWest Medical Center.  "The complication of preterm birth did not appear to be due to the maternal depression but rather it appears likely to be a medication effect."

"Several of the studies in this review controlled for maternal depression and these studies continued to show increased rates of preterm birth in the antidepressant exposed pregnancies," adds Reesha Shah Sanghani MD, MPH, from Vanderbilt University, via the release.

"It is important to keep in mind, however, that the issue of treatment of depression during pregnancy is complex and that there are many factors to consider.  Pregnant women and their providers need to weigh many issues," Urato adds.  "It is crucial, though, that the public gets accurate information on this topic."

Of the 41 studies reviewed, researchers found an increased rate of preterm births in patients taking antidepressants, particularly among those during the 3^rd trimester.

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More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal PLOS ONE.