Antidepressants During Pregnancy Increase Speech Disorders in Children

Children whose mothers used antidepressant medication during pregnancy are more likely to experience speech and language learning difficulties compared to other children. According to Live Science, researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City state that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can have adverse effects on the fetus. This study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, examined over 800,000 children born between 1996 and 2010. The research team found that mothers who used antidepressants were nearly twice as likely to give birth to infants facing learning difficulties, particularly in language acquisition. Professor Alan Brown noted that this is the first study of its kind at such a large scale addressing the connection between antidepressant use and language learning and speech issues. The researchers categorized women into three groups: the first group included women who had used SSRIs at least once before or during pregnancy; the second group consisted of women who struggled with some form of mental disorder a year before or during pregnancy but did not use medication; and the third group included women who neither used antidepressants nor had mental disorders before or during pregnancy. The researchers found a direct correlation between the use of antidepressants and language learning disorders in the children of these women, regardless of the quantity and dosage of the medications purchased. Dr. Helen Webberley stated that pregnant women should be aware of the risks that antidepressant use poses to their children. She believes that certain types of antidepressants are better avoided during pregnancy, but if a mother is at serious risk of mental disorders and depression, it may be better for her to take these medications. 'Sometimes the effects of SSRIs depend on when they are taken. Some medications may cause the most harm early in fetal development, while others may be dangerous later in pregnancy.' Dr. Webberley's recommendation for women is to carefully read the side effects of each medication and discuss them with their doctor.