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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Review Article

Neurodevelopmental outcome for offspring of women treated for antenatal depression: a systematic review

Authors: Giovanni Previti, Susan Pawlby, Sahmina Chowdhury, Eugenio Aguglia, Carmine M. Pariante

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 6/2014

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review is to appraise existing literature on the effects of treatments for antenatal depression on the neurodevelopment outcomes of the offspring. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify studies on different kinds of treatments for antenatal depression (antidepressants and alternative therapies) and their effects on infants’ neurodevelopment. After reading the title, abstract, or full text and applying exclusion criteria, a total of 22 papers were selected. Nineteen papers studied the effects of antidepressant drugs, one on docosahexanoic acid (DHA) (fish oil capsules) and two on massage therapy; however, no studies used a randomized controlled design, and in most studies, the control group comprise healthy women not exposed to depression. Comparisons between newborns exposed to antidepressants in utero with those not exposed showed significant differences in a wide range of neurobehavioral outcomes, although in many cases, these symptoms were transient. Two studies found a slight delay in psychomotor development, and one study found a delay in mental development. Alternative therapies may have some benefits on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Our review suggests that antidepressant treatment may be associated with some neurodevelopmental changes, but we cannot exclude that some of these effects may be due to depression per se.

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Title: Neurodevelopmental outcome for offspring of women treated for antenatal depression: a systematic review
Authors: Giovanni Previti
Susan Pawlby
Sahmina Chowdhury
Eugenio Aguglia
Carmine M. Pariante
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 6/2014
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0457-0

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