Long-term consequences of treating postnatal depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Exploring effects on mother and child

BackgroundAlthough selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended for postnatal depression (PND) treatment, a lack of evidence regarding the long-term consequences of postnatal SSRI use have resulted in treatment hesitancy. MethodsThe current study used longitudinal data on a total of 60654 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) to examine associations between PND and maternal outcomes (depression and anxiety, relationship satisfaction) and child outcomes (motor and language development, emotional and behavioral problems) from birth to postpartum year 5. We tested whether postnatal SSRI treatment moderated the effects of PND on maternal and child outcomes. A propensity score was used to control for pre- /antenatal factors that impacted the probability of receiving SSRIs. ResultsPND was associated with poor maternal mental health outcomes and problems in child development. Use of SSRIs mitigated the associations between PND and later maternal mental health distress and child externalizing behaviors up to postpartum year 5. We found no evidence to indicate that the use of SSRIs was associated with increased risk of negative outcomes in emotional, behavioural, motor and language development in offspring. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that SSRI treatment for PND may bring benefits in the long term by attenuating the detrimental associations between PND and subsequent maternal depression and child externalizing behaviors. The study provides valuable information for clinicians and women with PND to help make informed decisions regarding treatment.