Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Primary care physician’s attitudes and practices regarding antidepressant use during pregnancy: a survey of two countries

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Archives of Women's Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Little is known about the practices of primary care physicians regarding the prescribing of antidepressants during pregnancy. An anonymous survey was administered to a group of nonrandomly selected Australian general practitioners (n = 61 out of 77) and randomly selected Canadian family physicians (n = 35 out of 111). Responses to a hypothetical scenario and questions regarding beliefs about the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy were collected. Physicians from both countries feel strongly that antidepressant use during pregnancy is a decision complicated by conflicting reports of safety and risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alwan S, Reefhuis J, Rasmussen S, Olney R, Friedman J, NBDP Study Group (2007) Use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. N Engl J Med 356:2684–2692

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade S, Raebel M, Brown J, Lane K, Livingston J, Boudreau D, Rolnick S, Roblin D, Smith D, Willy M, Staffa J, Platt R (2008) Use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy: a multisite study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 198(194):e1–e5

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade S, McPhillips H, Loren D, Raebel M, Lane K, Livingston J, Boudreau D, Smith D, Davis R, Willy M, Platt R (2009) Antidepressant medication use and risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 18:246–252

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker M, Kölling P, Van Den Berg P, De Walle H, De Jong Van Den Berg L (2008) Increase in use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy during the last decade, a population-based cohort study from The Netherlands. Brit J Clin Pharmacol 65:600–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buist A, Bilszta J, Barnett B, Milgrom J, Condon J, Hayes B, Brooks J (2005) Recognition and management of perinatal depression in general practice: a survey of GPs and postnatal women. Aust Fam Physician 34:787–790

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buist A, Bilszta J, Milgrom J, Barnett B, Hayes B, Austin M-P (2006) Health professional’s knowledge and awareness of perinatal depression: results of a national survey. Women Birth 19:11–16

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen L, Altshuler L, Harlow B, Nonacs R, Newport D, Viguera A, Suri R, Burt V, Hendrick V, Reminick A, Loughead A, Vitonia A, Stowe Z (2006) Relapse of major depression during pregnancy in women who maintain or discontinue antidepressant treatment. J Am Med Assoc 295:499–507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper W, Pont M, Ray W (2007) Increasing use of antidepressants in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 196:e1–e5

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis L, Rubanowice D, McPhillips H, Raebel M, Andrade S, Smith D, Ulcickas Yood M, Platt R (2007) Risks of congenital malformations and perinatal events among infants exposed to antidepressant medications during pregnancy. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 16:1086–1094

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Einarson T, Einarson A (2005) Newer antidepressants in pregnancy and rates of major malformations: a meta-analysis of prospective comparative studies. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 14:823–827

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Einarson A, Selby P, Koren G (2001) Abrupt discontinuation of psychotropic drugs during pregnancy: fear of teratogenic risk and impact of counselling. J Psychiatry Neurosci 26:44–48

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Einarson A, Choi J, Einarson T, Koren G (2009) Incidence of major malformations in infants following antidepressant exposure in pregnancy: results of a large prospective cohort study. Can J Psychiatry 54:242–246

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman M (2007) Antenatal depression: navigating the treatment dilemmas. Am J Psychiatry 164:1162–1165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kallen B, Olausson P (2007) Maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in early pregnancy and infant congenital malformations. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 79:301–308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Louik C, Lin A, Werler M, Hernandez-Diaz S, Mitchell A (2007) First trimester use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and the risk of birth defects. N Engl J Med 356:2675–2683

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lund N, Pedersen L, Henriksen T (2009) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure in utero and pregnancy outcomes. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 163:949–954

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malm H, Kalukka T, Neuvonen P (2005) Risks associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 106:1289–1296

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moses-Kolko E, Bogen D, Perel J, Bregar A, Uhl K, Levin B, Wisner K (2005) Neonatal signs after late in utero exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors: literature review and implications for clinical applications. J Am Med Assoc 293:2372–2383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nevin A, Christopher P, Nulman P, Koren G, Einarson A (2002) A survey of physicians knowledge regarding awareness of maternal alcohol use and the diagnosis of FAS. BMC Fam Prac 3:2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlstein T (2008) Perinatal depression: treatment options and dilemmas. J Psychiatry Neurosci 33:302–318

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos E, St-Andre M, Oraichi D, Berard A (2008) Duration of antidepressant use during pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations. Br J Psychiatry 192:344–350

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reis M, Källén B (2010) Delivery outcome after maternal use of antidepressant drugs in pregnancy: an update using Swedish data. Psychol Med 40:1723–1722

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuchiya S, Einarson A (2007) Physicians’ participation in research. Can Med Assoc J 176:18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wichman C, Fothergill A, Moore K, Lang T, Heise R, Watson W (2008) Recent trends in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use in pregnancy. J Clin Psychopharmacol 28:714–716

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yonkers K, Wisner K, Stewart D, Oberlander T, Dell D, Stotland N, Ramin S, Chaudron L, Lockwood C (2009) The management of depression during pregnancy: a report from the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 114:703–713

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Justin L. C. Bilszta.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bilszta, J.L.C., Tsuchiya, S., Han, K. et al. Primary care physician’s attitudes and practices regarding antidepressant use during pregnancy: a survey of two countries. Arch Womens Ment Health 14, 71–75 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0197-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0197-8

Keywords

Navigation