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17/04/2015

Anxiety Symptoms Linked To Pre-Natal Antidepressant Use

Infants who are exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to have increased anxiety symptoms compared to their unexposed siblings, according to new research.

The study, which has been published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, was undertaken by researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), the University of Oslo and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Researchers studied the data of 20,180 siblings from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, who were recruited between 1999 and 2008. The mothers of the children were asked to report antidepressant use at gestational weeks 17 and 30, as well as six months postpartum. Here, Child Behavioral Checklist syndrome scales were used to assess externalising and internalising behavioural problems through the use of questionnaires sent to mothers at 18 and 36 months postpartum. Analysis, using random- and fixed-effects linear models, was carried out to determine potential behavioural effects of antidepressant exposure.

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It looked at how prenatal exposure to antidepressants was associated with an increased level of anxiety symptoms in children, aged three, after adjusting for maternal familial effects and other conditions such as maternal depression. Those behind the study said that the effect of prenatal exposure to antidepressants was specific to anxiety, and was not associated with emotional reactivity, sleep problems, somatic complaints, attention problems or aggression.

Commenting on the results, Ragnhild Eek Brandlistue, researcher and lead author of the study, explained: "These findings are in line with previous research, but to my knowledge this is the first study that has taken into account that depression and emotional problems have a genetic component.

"Siblings share on average 50% of their genes. By studying the effect of prenatal antidepressant use and maternal depression in sibling clusters, we can control for a large proportion of the genetic influence."

The team behind the study added that further studies are necessary regarding the issue.

(JP)

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"Infants who are exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to have increased anxiety symptoms compared to their unexposed siblings, according to new research."