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Prenatal antidepressant exposure and child behavioural outcomes at 7 years of age: a study within the Danish National Birth Cohort
Author(s) -
Grzeskowiak LE,
Morrison JL,
Henriksen TB,
Bech BH,
Obel C,
Olsen J,
Pedersen LH
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.13611
Subject(s) - danish , antidepressant , cohort , medicine , cohort study , pregnancy , psychiatry , demography , pediatrics , psychology , obstetrics , biology , sociology , anxiety , philosophy , linguistics , genetics
Objective To investigate the impact of prenatal antidepressant exposure on behavioural problems in children at 7 years of age. Design Nationwide population‐based study. Setting Danish National Birth Cohort. Population A cohort of 49 178 pregnant women recruited between 1996 and 2002. Methods Data obtained from computer‐assisted telephone interviews twice during pregnancy were used to identify children born to: (i) depressed women who took antidepressants during pregnancy ( n = 210); (ii) depressed women who did not take any antidepressants during pregnancy ( n = 231); and (iii) healthy women who were not depressed ( n = 48 737). Childhood behavioural problems at 7 years of age were examined using the validated Danish parent‐report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire ( SDQ ). Main outcome measures SDQ scores. Results No associations were observed between prenatal antidepressant exposure and abnormal SDQ scores for overall problem behaviour (adjusted relative risk, aRR 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.49–2.05), hyperactivity/inattention ( aRR 0.99; 95% CI 0.56–1.75), or peer problems ( aRR 1.04; 95% CI 0.57–1.91). Although prenatal antidepressant exposure appeared to be associated with abnormal SDQ scores on the subscales of emotional symptoms ( aRR 1.68; 95% CI 1.18–2.38) and conduct problems ( aRR 1.58; 95% CI 1.03–2.42), these associations were significantly attenuated following adjustment for antenatal mood status ( aRR 1.20; 95% CI 0.85–1.70 and aRR 1.19; 95% CI 0.77 1.83, respectively). Untreated prenatal depression was associated with an increased risk of all behavioural outcomes evaluated, compared with unexposed children, with significant attenuation following adjustment for antenatal mood status. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that independent of maternal illness, prenatal antidepressant exposure is not associated with an increased risk of behavioural problems in children at 7 years of age. Tweetable abstract Prenatal antidepressant exposure is not associated with an increased risk of child behavioural problems.