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Pregnancy antidepressants increased the risks of speech disorders in the child
Researchers found that antidepressants in the form of so-called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk of speech disorders and dyslexia in children whose mothers had taken these drugs during pregnancy. SSRIs are the most common type of prescribed antidepressants in pregnant women.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki and Columbia University found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk of speech disorders in children when their mothers take them during pregnancy. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "JAMA Psychiatry".
Pregnant women should be careful when forced to take medication. Some medications can have unexpected consequences. Researchers found that pregnant women taking so-called SSRIs increase the risk of speech disorders in their children. (Image: Negoi Cristian / fotolia.com) SSRIs increase the likelihood of speech disorders by about 37 percent
Pregnant mothers taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors increase the likelihood of different speech disorders in children. The children of such mothers are about 37 percent more at risk of developing speech disorders, compared to children of depressed mothers who did not take any of these drugs, the authors explain.
Study divides pregnant mothers into three different groups
Many people in the world suffer from depression. Pregnant women are no exception. About six to ten percent of the world's mothers take so-called antidepressants, scientists suspect. For their study, the researchers examined over 845,000 live births between 1996 and 2010. Thereafter, the mothers were divided into three different groups. The first so-called exposure group comprised 15,596 mothers. These women had SSRIs once or several times before or during pregnancy. The second group consisted of 9,537 mothers who suffered from depression or other psychiatric disorders but did not take antidepressants. The third group included 31,207 mothers who never had depression and never used antidepressants, the researchers explain.
More speech disorders after using antidepressants
The physicians determine the use of antidepressants based on the acquired drugs. If women renewed their prescription, it is likely that they had taken the drug and would continue to do so, say the authors. The data obtained showed an increased risk of speech disorders in children whose mothers had acquired SSRIs during pregnancy compared to children of mothers without depression or without SSRIs.
The consequences of speech disorders can have a major impact later in life
When women took SSRI at least twice during pregnancy, the likelihood of language impairment increased, the researchers report. Such disorders are generally very common in the population and would cause significant harm. Dyslexia, articulation disorders and other diagnostic language disorders have a major impact on the later school functions, the experts explain. It is therefore necessary therapies, language courses and a lot of money to treat these problems, the scientists explain.
Which drugs are SSRIs?
So-called SSRIs include, for example, Prozac (fluoxetine), Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Lexapro (escitalopram). Although it is known that such medications affect the placenta and enter the baby's bloodstream, doctors still prescribe it to women with depression in their pregnancy.
How many pregnant women take an antidepressant?
About one in seven women of reproductive age with private health insurance in the United States is taking an antidepressant, the authors explain. Recent data even suggest that about three percent of pregnant women take antidepressants during pregnancy. Some researchers suggest that the values are actually much higher. The authors estimate the current use in pregnant women between 4 percent and 10 percent.
Alternatives to antidepressants during pregnancy
Apart from the disagreement about the true numbers, taking SSRIs during pregnancy is a serious problem, say the doctors. Psychotherapy can be as effective as antidepressants in the treatment of moderate or milder forms of depression. However, severe forms of depression, including suicidal depression and psychotic depression, do not benefit as much from psychotherapy. Some women are almost forced to take antidepressants during pregnancy, say the experts. (As)