When a woman comes in for a consultation regarding the use of medications during pregnancy, we spend most of our time reviewing the potential risks of exposure to medications during pregnancy. However, we must also include a discussion of the effects of untreated psychiatric illness in the mother on the developing child, for there is… Read More »
SOURCES: Maria Garcia-Lloret, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, UCLA Health; co-director, UCLA food allergy clinic. Erica Broido, Los Angeles. UCLA Health: “Spotlight on Food Allergies: Pediatrics Allergy and Immunology Care.” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: “LEAP Study Results.” American Academy of Pediatrics News: “New guidelines detail use… Read More »
Adults who were exposed to lead during their childhood are more likely to experience mental health problems and develop unhealthy personality traits, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, reports Medical News Today. Researchers from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, reviewed the data of more than 1,000 participants born in 1972 and… Read More »
Previous studies have shown that children exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy may be at increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. In a recent population-based cohort study from Denmark, researchers examined the prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children with prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The conort included all liveborn singleton children born between… Read More »
While we have considerable data on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy, most of this research focuses on the risk of congenital malformations in exposed children. We have far less information regarding the long-term effects of SSRI antidepressants on neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed children. A recent study looks at executive functioning… Read More »