---
title: "Psych News Alert: Study Suggests Untreated Depression During Pregnancy May Increase Risks to Infants"
description: Untreated depression in pregnant women may increase the risks of preterm birth and low birth weight, according to a study  published yest...
image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/newborn_44795870_MEDIUM-Jun-24-2025-07-40-51-7571-PM.jpg
---

 6/9/16 12:00 AM

# Study Suggests Untreated Depression During Pregnancy May Increase Risks to Infants

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Untreated depression in pregnant women may increase the risks of preterm birth and low birth weight, according to a [study](http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=2526241) published yesterday in *JAMA Psychiatry*.

“These are important results for pregnant women and clinicians to take into account in the decision-making process around depression treatment,” wrote Alexander Jarde, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and colleagues.

The researchers systematically reviewed 23 prospective observational studies, including 25,663 women. Pregnant women with untreated depression had a significantly increased risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks; odds ratio[OR]=1.56) and low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams; OR=1.96) compared with women without depression.

Additional analysis revealed that the odds of preterm birth in studies with authors reporting conflicts of interest (direct or indirect funding by or links to pharmaceutical companies) were significantly higher than in studies not reporting such conflicts—a difference the authors noted was “not explained by either differences in depression severity or study quality and remains to be fully understood.”

The authors concluded, “Our findings have important clinical implications for pregnant women and health care professionals because they suggest the need for more surveillance for preterm birth and small infant size, key perinatal outcomes in women with untreated depression.”

For related information, see the *Psychiatric News* article “[Yes or No: Prescribing Antidepressants to Pregnant Patients](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2016.PP2b6),” by Jennifer L. Payne, M.D.

(Image: iStock/nattrass)

[APA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/apa), [psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry), [depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [preterm birth](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/preterm-birth), [prenatal depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/prenatal-depression), [JAMA Psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jama-psychiatry), [low birth weight](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/low-birth-weight), [systematic review](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/systematic-review)

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## [Preeclampsia, Perinatal Complications Linked to Developmental, Psychiatric Disorders in Children](https://alert.psychnews.org/2022/02/preeclampsia-perinatal-complications.html)

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[suicide](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/suicide), [depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [anxiety](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/anxiety), [childbirth](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/childbirth), [self-harm](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/self-harm), [suicidal ideation](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/suicidal-ideation), [women](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/women), [psychotic disorders](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychotic-disorders), [JAMA Psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jama-psychiatry)

## [Suicidality Among Childbearing Women Found to Increase Over 12-Year Period](https://alert.psychnews.org/2020/11/suicidality-among-childbearing-women.html)

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[depression in pregnancy](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression-in-pregnancy), [psychopharmacology](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychopharmacology), [M.D.](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/m-d-), [antidepressant](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/antidepressant), [Jennifer Payne](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jennifer-payne), [birth defects](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/birth-defects)

## [Benefits of Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy Outweigh Risks, Expert Says](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/02/benefits-of-taking-antidepressants.html)

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