WP22/01: Psychological and Cognitive Outcomes of Children Exposed to Antidepressants and Unmedicated Depression During Pregnancy
Designation
Working Paper 22/01
Proposed authors
Stephanie D’Souza
Francesca Anns
Gisela Theunissen
Karen Waldie
Concept
There is evidence that both depression and antidepressant use during pregnancy are associated with adverse birth and later child outcomes. Evidence is mixed with regards to antidepressant use, with more information needed on whether it poses a greater risk of adverse outcomes relative to unmedicated maternal depression.
The current project aims to examine antidepressant use and depressive symptoms in pregnant mothers from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) study, and how it relates to offspring outcomes up to age 8 years. Outcomes of interest include behaviour and cognition at 4.5 and 8 years, as well as depression and anxiety symptoms at 8 years.
Behaviour was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Cognition at 4.5 years was measured using the Dibels Letter Naming Fluency Task, the Picture Peabody Vocabulary Test, and the modified Luria Pencil Tapping Task. Cognition at 8 years was measured using the Cognition Battery from the NIH Toolbox. Anxiety and Depression at 8 years were measured using the PROMIS anxiety scale and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, respectively. A distinction will be made between those exposed to antidepressants, unmedicated depression, and neither.
Specifically, we will test:
- Whether exposure to antidepressants and unmedicated depression are associated with a risk of adverse childhood outcomes relative to no exposure, when adjusting for sociodemographic variables, other antenatal exposures (e.g. alcohol, smoking), and later life depression in the mother.
- If we observe a risk with both antidepressants and unmedicated depression, does this risk vary across the two exposures?
Separate papers may be published for each outcome.
Data sources
We will use data from the Growing Up in New Zealand study: specifically the antenatal, 9 month, 2 year, 54 month, and 8 year collection waves.