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Published Online: 1 May 2013

Does Fetal Exposure to SSRIs or Maternal Depression Impact Infant Growth?

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Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., M.S., Debra L. Bogen, M.D., Dorothy Sit, M.D., Mary McShea, M.A., Carolyn Hughes, M.S.W., David Rizzo, M.S.W., Andrea Confer, B.S., James Luther, M.A., Heather Eng, B.A., and Stephen W. Wisniewski, Ph.D.Authors Info & Affiliations

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 170, Number 5

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11121873

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Abstract

In utero exposure to a mother's untreated major depression or SSRI antidepressants did not affect infant weight, length, or head circumference in the first year of life, suggesting that factors regulating infant growth are robust enough not to be perturbed by either option.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the growth of infants born to women with antenatal major depressive disorder, either untreated or treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, and infants born to a nondepressed, nonmedicated comparison group across the first year of life.

Method

In this prospective observational study, pregnant women were evaluated at weeks 20, 30, and 36 of gestation, and mother and infant pairs were assessed at 2, 12, 26, and 52 weeks postpartum. Three nonoverlapping groups of women were defined according to their pregnancy exposures: 1) no SSRI and no depression (N=97), 2) SSRI (N=46), and 3) major depression without SSRI (N=31). Maternal demographic and clinical characteristics and newborn outcomes were compared across exposure groups. Infant weight, length, and head circumference were measured by a physician or physician’s assistant who was blind to depression and SSRI exposure status at each postpartum time point.

Results

Both adjusted and unadjusted analyses revealed neither antenatal major depression nor SSRI exposure was significantly associated with infant weight, length, or head circumference relative to nonexposure to either. In addition, the interaction of group and prepregnancy body mass index was also evaluated, and no significant synergistic effect was identified. Similarly, no differential effect of group over time was observed for weight, length, or head circumference.

Conclusions

In utero exposure to major depression or SSRI antidepressants did not affect infant growth with respect to weight, length, or head circumference from birth through 12 months of age.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychiatry

Go to American Journal of Psychiatry

American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 170 • Number 5 • May 2013

Pages: 485 - 493

PubMed: 23511234

History

Received: 27 December 2011

Revision received: 5 November 2012

Accepted: 4 December 2012

Published online: 1 May 2013

Published in print: May 2013

Authors

Affiliations

Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., M.S.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Debra L. Bogen, M.D.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Dorothy Sit, M.D.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Mary McShea, M.A.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Carolyn Hughes, M.S.W.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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David Rizzo, M.S.W.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Andrea Confer, B.S.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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James Luther, M.A.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Heather Eng, B.A.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Stephen W. Wisniewski, Ph.D.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; and the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

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Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Wisner ([email protected]).

Funding Information

Dr. Sit reports donations of light boxes from Uplift Technologies for a K23 study on light therapy for bipolar depression; NIMH Career Development Award K23 MH-082114; and funding through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Montefiore Hospital, University of Pittsburgh (NIH/NCRR/CTSA grant UL1 RR-024153) for lab collection related to light study. Dr. Wisniewski reports advisory panel consulting for Cyberonic (2005–2009), ImaRx Therapeutics (2006), Bristol-Myers Squibb (2007–2008), Organon (2007), Case-Western University (2007), Singapore Clinical Research Institute (2009), Dey Pharmaceuticals (2010), and Venebio (2010). The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.Supported by NIMH grant R01 MH-60335.

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