Scientists may have found another risk when taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy. A new study reveals that anti-depressants can cause lower birth weights in infants. In addition to that, there is a huge possibility that women on SSRIs can give birth to premature babies.
SSRI Prenatal Effects
The study, which was published in the International Journal of Epidimiology (via AlphaGallileo), found that infants who had mothers who took SSRIs during the pregnancy weighed 205 grams less than babies who were not exposed to antidepressants. The children were almost most likely to be born on average of 4.9 days earlier than their expected delivery date.
The results are hardly new, since several studies have already indicated the connection between SSRI exposure and lower birth weight in infants (via Science Daily). However, the researchers have decided to take a completely new approach in geting results for the new study.
The Sibling Design Method
The scientists used the sibling design method to make sure genetics was not a factor in SSRIs prenatal effects. The study included more than 27,000 siblings, 194 of which have been exposed to antidepressants before birth. The data was taken from The Medical Birth Registry of Norway as well as The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), where more than 7,400 women have had a history of depression. The mothers found in the MoBa database have also taken SSRIs for two or more trimesters of their pregnancy.
The Study Results
Although the study was unable to determine whether genetics or family environment could be a factor in lower birth weight being caused by SSRI exposure, co-author Dr. Katerina Nezvalova-Henriksen stated that more research needs to be done to find a more promising conclusion. "The risks and benefits of SSRI therapy should therefore be carefully evaluated in each individual case," Dr. Nezvalova-Henriksen said.
