Online information about perinatal mental health—or the safety of mental health medications taken during pregnancy—is mostly written at or above a 12th-grade level, far exceeding recommended readability levels, according to an article in Psychiatric Services.Why It’s Relevant
Literacy is an important social determinant of health. To ensure that medical information is broadly accessible, the AMA recommends that patient education materials be written at a sixth-grade level or lower. Readability is especially crucial during pregnancy, which can be a stressful and anxious period—and about which there is much medical misinformation.
By the Numbers
- Using an online readability scanner, the researchers found that online information related to four psychiatric disorders during pregnancy was written at a 12th-grade level on average: 11.4 for depression, 11.7 for anxiety, 12.4 for obsessive-compulsive disorder, and 12.5 for psychosis.
- Safety information on nine common psychiatric medications during pregnancy was written above a 12th-grade level, with lamotrigine (13.6) and Haldol (13.5) having the highest grade requirements and Ambien (11.9) and Xanax (11.0) having the lowest.
- Overall, medication safety information for pregnant individuals was one grade level higher on average than comparable information for the general population.
The Other Side
The readability scanner used by the researchers only assessed webpage text; many of these sites may have included images or other multimedia to aid comprehension. Further, many people today turn to AI chatbots or social media for medical information—online venues that should be a focus of future research.
Takeaway Message
Poor readability of health information could confuse or frustrate many pregnant individuals, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes. Data recently presented at the 2026 Pregnancy Meeting found that nearly two-thirds of women with depression had a significant gap (at least 60 days) in refilling their antidepressants during pregnancy—and these women were nearly twice as likely to experience a mental health emergency.
The researchers wrote that their findings “underscore the importance of thoughtful doctor-patient communications,” and that doctors should identify or create “accessible patient education resources to support informed decision making and to foster trust in clinical conversations.”
Related Information
Source
Amanda Koire, et al. Readability of online information on perinatal mental health and psychotropic medication safety. Psychiatric Services. Published February 18, 2026. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.20250542
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/AntonioGuillem)
