Story perspectives

Study: Maternal Antidepressants Don't Raise Kids' Anxiety Risk

10/12/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry finds maternal antidepressant use during pregnancy does not raise long-term risk of anxiety or depression in children, based on data from over 144,000 British Columbia children.
Instead, family-related factors, including maternal mental health and genetics, appear to have a larger influence.
Findings align with United States and Denmark studies and emphasize treating maternal depression while weighing medication risks and benefits.

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Story summary

A study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry finds maternal antidepressant use during pregnancy does not raise long-term risk of anxiety or depression in children, based on data from over 144,000 British Columbia children.
Instead, family-related factors, including maternal mental health and genetics, appear to have a larger influence.
Findings align with United States and Denmark studies and emphasize treating maternal depression while weighing medication risks and benefits.