Claire Boone, PhD
Credit: McGill University
A recent study discovered a large decrease in antidepressant use during pregnancy without an increase in psychotherapy.1
Without increased psychotherapy to offset stopping antidepressants, women face a greater risk of depression relapse. Women have the greatest risk of depression during and after pregnancy, and this risk is particularly high among women with a history of depression.
Many pregnant women worry about the consequences of antidepressants on their unborn child. Research has shown safety concerns of utero exposure to some antidepressant medications.2 When born, babies may experience short-term symptoms of quitting the medicine, such as jitters, irritable behavior, poor feeding, and respiratory distress, which can last up to 2 weeks.
The biggest concern of taking…