The Effects of Maternal Antidepressant Usage on a Child’s Psychological Health

Conference Year

January 2021

Abstract

Antidepressant usage during pregnancy is a confusing subject that has a lack of consistent research. There are those that believe treated depression and other mood disorders can have negative effects on a child while others argue that the negative effects that may be caused by antidepressants are not as intense as those caused by untreated depression in a mother. Current research done on antidepressant usage during pregnancy only looked at general health measures in infants and toddlers and did not examine effects on older children who are able to be assessed for cognitive and mood influences of perinatal antidepressants. This study investigated the effects of maternal antidepressant usage on physical, cognitive and psychological development in children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study.

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Julie Dumas

Faculty/Staff Collaborators

Julie Dumas (thesis advisor)

Status

Undergraduate

Student College

College of Arts and Sciences

Program/Major

Neuroscience

Primary Research Category

Health Sciences

Abstract only.

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The Effects of Maternal Antidepressant Usage on a Child’s Psychological Health

Antidepressant usage during pregnancy is a confusing subject that has a lack of consistent research. There are those that believe treated depression and other mood disorders can have negative effects on a child while others argue that the negative effects that may be caused by antidepressants are not as intense as those caused by untreated depression in a mother. Current research done on antidepressant usage during pregnancy only looked at general health measures in infants and toddlers and did not examine effects on older children who are able to be assessed for cognitive and mood influences of perinatal antidepressants. This study investigated the effects of maternal antidepressant usage on physical, cognitive and psychological development in children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study.