A narrative review of the risks of antidepressants and depression in pregnancy

Authors

  • Amaury Cantilino Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife, Brasil
  • Carla Fonseca Zambaldi Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2012.v2.886

Keywords:

depression, antidepressants, pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is an increasingly common illness during pregnancy and is associated with adverse outcomes for the mother and newborn (NB). There is an increase in the use of antidepressants in women of reproductive age. Antidepressants are the most frequently studied medications for the treatment of mental disorders. Objective: This article reviews the repercussions of depression during pregnancy, in addition to the safety of antidepressant use during pregnancy. Method: This is a narrative review of the content of a collection of articles extracted from Medline between 2005 and 2012. The descriptors used were: “antidepressants” and “pregnancy”. Relevant articles cited in reviews prior to 2005 were also consulted. Results: Although widely studied, it is still unclear whether there is an increased risk of malformations, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns, prematurity, low birth weight, and negative outcomes in child development. There are neonatal symptoms of poor adaptation associated with the use of antidepressants during pregnancy. Conclusion: Randomized controlled trials of antidepressants during pregnancy have not been conducted for ethical reasons, but observational data suggest that they are relatively safe. Women with depression should be informed of the risks associated with medication, as well as those associated with untreated depression.

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Author Biographies

Amaury Cantilino , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife, Brasil

Carla Fonseca Zambaldi, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife, Brasil

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Published

2012-06-29

How to Cite

1.
Cantilino A, Zambaldi CF. A narrative review of the risks of antidepressants and depression in pregnancy. Debates em Psiquiatria [Internet]. 2012 Jun. 29 [cited 2024 Dec. 19];2(3):40-4. Available from: https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/886

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