More Research Urged to Assess Antipsychotics’ Risk in Pregnancy

Intrauterine antipsychotic exposure may significantly affect neuromotor performance in 6-month-old infants, but it is unknown whether the deficits are transient or reflect early evidence of a persistent disruption in neuromotor function. Also unknown is whether the deficits reflect maternal mental illness, since abnormal neuromotor scores were also significantly associated with maternal psychiatric history and overall severity and chronicity of mental disorders.

Researchers at Emory University reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry the results of a 1999 through 2008 prospective controlled study of 309 mother-infant pairs. Examiners administered a standardized neuromotor examination that tests posture, tone, reflexes, and motor skills. Infants prenatally exposed to antipsychotics scored significantly lower than those with antidepressant or no psychotropic exposure. “Taken together, results from the study raise concerns about the potential impact of both prenatal exposure and maternal psychiatric illness,” wrote lead author Katrina Johnson, Ph.D., and colleagues. And they said more research is needed to untangle the effects of medication exposure, maternal mental illness, and other factors.

To read more about this study, see Psychiatric News, here.

(Image: Morgan DDL)