Maternal selective XXXX reuptake inhibitor use during pregnancy and newborn neurobehavior.

@entity1 @entity10522 @entity427 @entity750
OBJECTIVE: This is a prospective study of the effects of maternal use of selective @entity750 reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy on newborn neurobehavioral integrity, including systematic measures of behavioral state, sleep organization, motor activity, heart rate variability (HRV), tremulousness, and @entity427 . METHODS: The sample included 17 SSRI-exposed and 17 nonexposed, full-birth-weight newborn @entity1 who had no obvious medical problems and were matched on maternal cigarette use, social class, and maternal age. SSRI exposure was determined by medical records and maternal self-report during a standard interview. Behavioral state, @entity427 , and tremulousness were evaluated for 1 hour between feedings. Automated recordings of motor activity and HRV were also assessed during a 15-minute subset sleep period. HRV was subjected to spectral analysis to detect rhythms in autonomic regulation. Exposed and nonexposed @entity1 groups were compared on measures of neurobehavioral development both before and after adjustment for gestational age as a covariate. RESULTS: SSRI-exposed @entity1 had a shorter mean gestational age; were more motorically active and tremulous; and showed fewer rhythms in HRV, fewer changes in behavioral state, fewer different behavioral states, and a lower peak behavioral state. SSRI-exposed @entity1 also had significantly more rapid eye @entity10522 , which was characterized by longer continuous bouts in that state and higher numbers of spontaneous @entity427 or sudden arousals. After effects of gestational age were covaried, significant differences continued to be found in tremulousness and all measures of state and sleep organization, but effects on @entity427 , motor activity, and rhythms in HRV were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide the first systematic evidence that @entity1 who use SSRIs during pregnancy have healthy, full-birth-weight newborn @entity1 who show disruptions in a wide range of neurobehavioral outcomes. Effects on motor activity, @entity427 , and HRV may be mediated through the effects of SSRI exposure on gestational age. Future research can lead to a better understanding of the effects of SSRI use during pregnancy and an improved public health outcome.
