A recent analysis indicates that nearly two-thirds of women cease taking prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy. This discontinuation nearly doubles their likelihood of experiencing a mental health emergency.
Poor mental health is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the USA. Untreated depression during pregnancy can increase risks of suicide, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and low birth weight.
Previous research suggests SSRI use during pregnancy does not pose risks for congenital abnormalities, fetal growth issues, or long-term developmental problems.
The 2026 cross-sectional analysis examined nearly 4,000 patients with a pre-pregnancy diagnosis of anxiety or depression on SSRI or SNRI prescriptions. Over 64% stopped their medication for at least 60 days during pregnancy, with discontinuation rates rising each trimester.
Women who stopped antidepressants during pregnancy faced a nearly two-fold higher risk of mental health emergencies, including suicide risk, substance overdose, and psychosis.
With one in five patients entering pregnancy with a pre-existing mental health diagnosis, researchers emphasize that treatment should not be withheld. Establishing strategies to promote medication continuation during pregnancy is urged as an urgent public health priority to combat the maternal mortality crisis.