Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Depression, drugs linked to preterm birth

|
|
 
  
Published: Nov. 3, 2009 at 2:43 PM

SEATTLE, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Pregnant women with a history of depression who used psychiatric medication have triple the risk of premature child delivery, U.S. researchers found.

Researchers at the University of Washington, University of Michigan and Michigan State University found that a combination of medication use and depression -- either before or during pregnancy was strongly linked to delivery before 35 weeks' gestation.

Lead author Amelia Gavin of the University of Washington said the findings highlight the need for carefully planned studies that can clarify associations between depression, psychiatric medications and preterm delivery.

"Women with depression face difficult decisions regarding the benefits and risks of using psychotropic medications in pregnancy," Gavin said in a statement.

"Therefore, a focus on disentangling medication effects and depression effects on mother and offspring health should be a major clinical priority."

The study examined the associations among maternal depression, psychiatric medication use in pregnancy and preterm delivery among women in five Michigan communities who received prenatal care at one of 52 participating clinics between September 1998 and June 2004. To be included in the study, the women had to be at least age 15 with no history of diabetes and were 15-27 weeks pregnant.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Health News Stories
1 of 29
Members of the Army's Old Guard place flags at Arlington National Ceremtery
View Caption
U.S. flags are seen in the rucksack of a soldier with the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, as he places flags at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Flags-In Memorial Day ceremony on May 24, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. American flags were placed at each of the more than 220,000 grave markers in honor of those who served and Memorial Day. UPI/Kevin Dietshc
fark
I'm thinking of using a non-sequitor to greet various people. I was thinking something like "Brother"...
Photoshop this Passing President
The Lord is just in all his ways: redlight runner who hit nun has iPhone stolen by passerby offering...
Can you order top shelf hookers at the Travelodge? It's more likely than you think. (Not safe for...
70 years ago today Czech partisans made Hitler very angry
Newly upgraded to a tropical storm and now Beryling in on Southeast coast