Navigating Maternal Mental Health: Antidepressants, Pregnancy and Neurodevelopment (2024)

Prescriptions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants to pregnant people have increased 4-8-fold over the last 30 years, yet their impact on fetal neurodevelopment remains unknown. Although considered safe and effective for the mother, these medications cross the placenta and into the fetal brain, potentially altering the impact of serotonin on the fetal nervous system. Whether this exposure translates to long-term effects is unclear. The choices facing physicians and pregnant people are similarly unclear, as discontinuing antidepressants can have negative consequences. To address these questions, Posner will review several studies including preclinical research on the neurodevelopmental role of serotonin, epidemiological studies on prenatal SSRI exposure, and recent neuroimaging research centered on fetal and infant brain development.
Presented by Jonathan Posner, M.D.
Part of the 2023-2024 Distinguished Lecturer Series