RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Psychotropic medication use during pregnancy and gestational age at delivery
Haviland, M. J., Nillni, Y. I., Fox, M. P., Savitz, D. A., Hatch, E. E., Rothman, K. J., Hacker, M. R., Wang, T. R., & Wise, L. A. (2021). Psychotropic medication use during pregnancy and gestational age at delivery. Annals of Epidemiology, 53, 34-41.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.08.010
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between psychotropic medication use during pregnancy and gestational age at delivery, after adjusting for depressive symptom and perceived stress severity.
METHODS: We analyzed data on singleton live births from 2914 female Pregnancy Study Online participants, aged 21 to 45, with a reported conception from 6/2013 to 6/2018. Women reported psychotropic medication use at 8 to 12 weeks' and ~32 weeks' gestation. We measured depressive symptoms using the Major Depressive Inventory and perceived stress using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Data on gestational age at delivery were based on self-reports and/or birth certificates. We used restricted mean survival time models, stratifying by severity of depressive symptoms (Major Depression Inventory <25 vs. ≥25) and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale <20 vs. ≥20).
RESULTS: Two hundred and ten (7.2%) participants reported using psychotropic medications during pregnancy. Mean gestational age at delivery among women who never used psychotropic medications was 38.2 weeks (95% confidence interval: 37.7, 38.7), whereas it was 37.3 weeks (95% confidence interval: 36.7, 37.9) among women who used psychotropic medications during pregnancy. Results were similar across strata of depressive symptoms and perceived stress.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the association between psychotropic medication use and gestational age at delivery is not confounded by indication.
