Neonatal Outcomes Following Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Use During Pregnancy

Is continuing SSRI treatment during pregnancy associated with adverse neonatal outcomes compared with discontinuation?In this cohort study using a target trial emulation framework and electronic health records from 1014 pregnancies, compared with discontinuation, continuation of SSRI treatment during pregnancy was associated with neonatal adaptation symptoms, including lower Apgar scores. No statistically significant associations were observed with life-threatening complications, neonatal intensive care unit admission, or major congenital anomalies.By restricting to individuals with prepregnancy SSRI use and minimizing bias and confounding, this study suggests that SSRI continuation during pregnancy may be associated with transient, but not severe, neonatal outcomes.

Corresponding Authors: Lisa Bastarache, MS, Department of Biomedical Informatics (lisa.bastarache@vumc.org), and Jennifer M. S. Sucre, PhD (jennifer.sucre@vumc.org), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Ave, Ste 1500, Nashville, TN 37203.

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