Timeframe
2021–2023
Funding
COMPASS staff
Stephanie D’Souza
Collaborators
University of Auckland
Karen Waldie
University of Canterbury
Julia Rucklidge
Students & Research Assistants
Francesca Anns, BA(Hons) and RA
Charlotte Svardal, RA
Dilpreet Kaur, Summer Scholar
Description
This project aimed to address the need for more evidence that both depression and antidepressant use during pregnancy are associated with adverse birth and later child outcomes. Evidence was previously mixed with regard to antidepressant use, with more information needed on whether it posed a greater risk of adverse outcomes than unmedicated maternal depression.
We examined data on antidepressant use and depressive symptoms in pregnant mothers from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUINZ) study, and looked at how these related to outcomes for their offspring through 8 years of age. We made specific distinctions among mothers taking antidepressants, those with unmedicated depression, and those in neither of these situations.