Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2013 May-Jun;35(3):265-71. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.12.010. Epub 2013 Jan 30.

National trends in antidepressant medication treatment among publicly insured pregnant women.

Huybrechts KF1, Palmsten K, Mogun H, Kowal M, Avorn J, Setoguchi-Iwata S, Hernández-Díaz S.

Author information

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The risk of depression in women is greatest at childbearing age. We sought to examine and explain national trends in antidepressant use in pregnant women.

METHODS:

This was a cohort study including pregnant women aged 12-55 who were enrolled in Medicaid during 2000-2007. We examined the proportion of women taking antidepressants during pregnancy by patient characteristics (descriptive), by region (mixed-effects model) and over time (interrupted time series).

RESULTS:

We identified 1,106,757 pregnancies in 47 states; mean age was 23 years, and 60% were nonwhite. Nearly 1 in 12 used an antidepressant during pregnancy. Use was higher for older (11.2% for age ≥30 vs. 7.6% for <30 17="" 180="" 33="" 4.0="" 4="" 5.3="" 90="" a="" additional="" advisories="" affect="" among="" an="" and="" antidepressant="" antidepressants="" appear="" at="" began="" conception="" days="" did="" difference="" during="" fivefold="" for="" four-="" health="" in="" into="" labeled="" nonwhite="" not="" of="" on="" p="" pregnancy-related="" pregnancy.="" pregnancy="" rate="" respectively="" states.="" still="" taking="" the="" there="" to="" treatment="" use.="" use="" vs.="" was="" were="" white="" women.="" women="">

CONCLUSIONS:

Antidepressant use during pregnancy remains high in this population; treatment patterns vary substantially by patient characteristics and region. Comparative safety and effectiveness data to help inform treatment choices are needed in this setting.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID:

 

23374897

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23374897