Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method

ABSTRACT Background Maternal psychiatric condition during the perinatal period is relevant to children's cognitive development and mental health. Psychotropic medications are necessary to maintain the mental health of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders, but they are often avoided due to...

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Main Authors: Yuta Yoshino, Toru Yagi, Koichi Tsubouchi, Yusuke Takaishi, Yuki Ozaki, Jun‐ichi Iga, Keiichi Matsubara, Yuko Matsubara, Yuka Uchikura, Takashi Sugiyama, Shu‐ichi Ueno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.70005
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author Yuta Yoshino
Toru Yagi
Koichi Tsubouchi
Yusuke Takaishi
Yuki Ozaki
Jun‐ichi Iga
Keiichi Matsubara
Yuko Matsubara
Yuka Uchikura
Takashi Sugiyama
Shu‐ichi Ueno
author_facet Yuta Yoshino
Toru Yagi
Koichi Tsubouchi
Yusuke Takaishi
Yuki Ozaki
Jun‐ichi Iga
Keiichi Matsubara
Yuko Matsubara
Yuka Uchikura
Takashi Sugiyama
Shu‐ichi Ueno
author_sort Yuta Yoshino
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Maternal psychiatric condition during the perinatal period is relevant to children's cognitive development and mental health. Psychotropic medications are necessary to maintain the mental health of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders, but they are often avoided due to concerns about adverse effects, such as congenital malformations and abnormal neurodevelopment. A retrospective study of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders using psychotropic medications was performed to clarify maternal and child demographic data and to investigate whether psychotropic medications affected the Apgar score and the decision to breastfeed. Methods Data of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders who were referred from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to the Department of Neuropsychiatry at Ehime University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2022 were collected retrospectively. Pearson's chi‐squared test and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analyses. Results A total of 226 women were included; 194 gave birth at our hospital, of whom 79 (40.7%) were taking psychotropic drugs at the time of delivery. None of the children had malformations. There was no relationship between the use of psychotropic medications and the choice to breastfeed. Multiple regression analysis showed that only the gestational weeks at birth were significantly associated with birth weight (p < 0.001) and Apgar score (1 min: p = 0.030; 5 min: p = 0.044). Conclusions The use of psychotropic medications during the perinatal period appears safe and beneficial for both pregnant women with psychiatric disorders and their children, and breastfeeding should be considered even if the mother continues to take the medication. To clarify these points, prospective studies using large samples from several countries are needed.
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spelling doaj-art-8982a7a772ac4f0383b7ea2ec5b2a1e02025-08-20T02:40:48ZengWileyNeuropsychopharmacology Reports2574-173X2025-03-01451n/an/a10.1002/npr2.70005Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation MethodYuta Yoshino0Toru Yagi1Koichi Tsubouchi2Yusuke Takaishi3Yuki Ozaki4Jun‐ichi Iga5Keiichi Matsubara6Yuko Matsubara7Yuka Uchikura8Takashi Sugiyama9Shu‐ichi Ueno10Department of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology Ehime University School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology Ehime University School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology Ehime University School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology Ehime University School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Molecules and Function Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Toon Ehime JapanABSTRACT Background Maternal psychiatric condition during the perinatal period is relevant to children's cognitive development and mental health. Psychotropic medications are necessary to maintain the mental health of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders, but they are often avoided due to concerns about adverse effects, such as congenital malformations and abnormal neurodevelopment. A retrospective study of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders using psychotropic medications was performed to clarify maternal and child demographic data and to investigate whether psychotropic medications affected the Apgar score and the decision to breastfeed. Methods Data of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders who were referred from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to the Department of Neuropsychiatry at Ehime University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2022 were collected retrospectively. Pearson's chi‐squared test and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analyses. Results A total of 226 women were included; 194 gave birth at our hospital, of whom 79 (40.7%) were taking psychotropic drugs at the time of delivery. None of the children had malformations. There was no relationship between the use of psychotropic medications and the choice to breastfeed. Multiple regression analysis showed that only the gestational weeks at birth were significantly associated with birth weight (p < 0.001) and Apgar score (1 min: p = 0.030; 5 min: p = 0.044). Conclusions The use of psychotropic medications during the perinatal period appears safe and beneficial for both pregnant women with psychiatric disorders and their children, and breastfeeding should be considered even if the mother continues to take the medication. To clarify these points, prospective studies using large samples from several countries are needed.https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.70005
spellingShingle Yuta Yoshino
Toru Yagi
Koichi Tsubouchi
Yusuke Takaishi
Yuki Ozaki
Jun‐ichi Iga
Keiichi Matsubara
Yuko Matsubara
Yuka Uchikura
Takashi Sugiyama
Shu‐ichi Ueno
Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method
Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
title Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method
title_full Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method
title_fullStr Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method
title_short Effects of Psychotropic Medications Taken by Pregnant Women on Newborn Medical Condition and Lactation Method
title_sort effects of psychotropic medications taken by pregnant women on newborn medical condition and lactation method
url https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.70005
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