Psychiatric Medications, Psychiatric Disorders, and Pregnancy: New Data

Three recent articles provide guidance to clinicians working with pregnant patients who have psychiatric disorders.

Suri et al. prospectively and naturalistically followed 90 pregnant women (mean age, 33.8). Forty-nine had major depression and received antidepressant medication, predominantly SSRIs (44 received medication in the first trimester, and all received medication in the second and third trimesters); 22 had major depression but minimal or no antidepressant treatment during pregnancy; and 19 were not depressed. The groups had similar mean numbers of previous births, miscarriages, and abortions. Apgar scores and birth weights did not differ significantly among the groups. However, women receiving antidepressants gave birth approximate…