Antidepressants are among the most prevalent medications used during pregnancy (14%). As of now, Evidence-based data is lacking on the effect of discontinuing vs. continuing antidepressant use during pregnancy on the overall health of the mother and the baby, as well as the cognitive and behavioural development of children. Since the Canadian Psychiatric Association considers the appropriate treatment of depression during pregnancy a public health priority, the following research program is conducted.

This study looks at the effect of discontinuing antidepressant use during pregnancy on 1) the health and behaviour of the mother during and after pregnancy, 2) the cognitive and behavioural development of the infant, and 3) the rates of preterm birth, major malformations, low-birth-weight, and admissions to neonatal intensive care units. These different phases are studied using data collected from the North American field study on antidepressants. Ethics approval was obtained from CHU Sainte-Justine, Sick Kids Hospital, and West Ontarian Hospital for children ethics committees.

Funding source
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ), and Conseil du Médicament.