Treating Depression during Pregnancy

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Treating Depression during Pregnancy

The Bottom Line: Treatment of depression during pregnancy requires harm-benefit analysis of the risk of pharmacological agents to the fetus versus the maternal risk of failing to eat or take care of herself, failing to seek neonatal care, suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of killing the fetus[1]. For up-to-date information regarding antidepressant use in pregnancy, click here.>

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1. Szigethy EM and Wisner KL. Psychopharmacological treatment of mood and anxiety disorder during pregnancy. In: Mood disorders in women. Eds: Steiner M, Yonkers KA and Eriksson E. London: Sage Publications, 1994.

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1.	Antidepressants should never be used in pregnancy
	True False

2.	Antidepressants are of no concern and may be used liberally during pregnancy
	True False

3.	Antidepressants should only be used in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy
	True False

4.	Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is never an option during pregnancy
	True False

5.	Psychotherapy or other non-pharmacological alternatives should be considered before antidepressants are prescribed for use during pregnancy.
	True False