Prenatal Exposure to Valproate and Heightened Risk for ADHD

Valproate is contraindicated in pregnancy. The literature is unclear regarding whether attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be added to established risks for neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital anomalies. Using data from Danish national registries, investigators identified all 913,302 singleton children born from 1997 through 2011 and followed them from birth until an ADHD diagnosis based on the International Classification of Diseases–10 or prescription for ADHD medication.

Any redeemed maternal anticonvulsant prescription (from 30 days before the estimated day of conception to the birthdate) constituted the exposure window. Analyses controlled for maternal mental illness, age, diabetes, and child sex. Of the 580 c…