New report gives guidelines on pregnancy and depression

As many as 23 percent of pregnant women will experience a depressive disorder while pregnant, but fearing that antidepressants will be bad for the baby, many refuse to take medication or are advised not to by their doctors.

A new report from leading psychiatric and OB/GYN experts provides the first-ever concrete guidelines for treating depression in pregnant women. After reviewing existing research, they found that using antidepressants during pregnancy can sometimes be the safest option for both the baby and the mother.

The report advises that for women with more severe, recurrent depression, it is unwise and potentially dangerous to discontinue medication. If a woman’s symptoms are mild and she responds well to therapy, however, it may be advisable to taper off medication before or during pregnancy.

Above all, the report stresses that open communication between patient, psychiatrist, and OB/GYN is essential to choosing the best treatment for both mother and child.