Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment tied to lower risk for maternal mental health problems and child externalizing behaviors across early childhood<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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THURSDAY, Aug. 31, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Postnatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment is associated with long-term benefits for women with postnatal depression and their offspring, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Chaoyu Liu, M.D., Ph.D., from King s College in London, and colleagues examined whether postnatal SSRI treatment moderated postnatal depression-associated maternal and child outcomes across the early childhood years. The analysis included 61,081 mother-child dyads.<\/p>\n The researchers found that 14.2 percent of mothers met the criteria for postnatal depression diagnosis, with 2.0 percent receiving postnatal SSRI treatment. More severe postnatal depression symptoms were associated with a range of adverse maternal and child outcomes. Postnatal SSRI treatment lessened negative associations between postnatal depression and maternal relationship satisfaction at postpartum month 6 (moderation \u00ce\u00b2, 0.13), year 1.5 (moderation \u00ce\u00b2, 0.11), and year 3 (moderation \u00ce\u00b2, 0.12). Postnatal SSRI treatment also lessened negative associations with child attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder at age 5 years (moderation \u00ce\u00b2, \u00e2\u0088\u00920.15). Negative associations between postnatal depression and maternal depression, partner relationship satisfaction, and child externalizing problems were mitigated with postnatal SSRI treatment.<\/p>\n This study potentially provides valuable information for clinicians and women with postnatal depression to make informed treatment decisions, the authors write.<\/p>\n