Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and the Potential Risks of Motor Outcomes and Intellectual Disabilities in Offspring: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: There is a risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring from exposure to antidepressants during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to systematically review the available evidence regarding the impact of in utero exposure to antidepressants on motor and intellectual disability outcomes in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search for published observational studies examining the effects of antidepressants on motor development or intellectual disabilities in children was conducted using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies were included in this review. Studies have reported conflicting effects on motor development in infants with maternal exposure to antidepressants. Furthermore, not all of the studies included that assessed intellectual disabilities in infants found an association between maternal exposure to antidepressants and intellectual disabilities. However, methodological flaws existed in the studies, such as the use of scales with inadequate reliability or validity, a lack of statistical power, or confounding by indication or disease severity. CONCLUSION: The available literature provides inconclusive evidence on the relationship between in utero exposure to antidepressants and adverse effects on motor development outcomes or neurocognitive skills. Further observational studies with robust methodologies are needed to comprehensively evaluate the potential risks of prescribing antidepressants during pregnancy.