This proposal outlines a Multi-Institutional Collaborative Research (R-10) Project in which we will evaluate the risk of relapse in pregnancy among women with a history of major depression who either maintain or discontinue antidepressant treatment around the time of conception. The primary aims of this investigation are (1) to establish whether relapse/recurrence rates are lower in women who maintain versus discontinue antidepressant treatment during pregnancy; (2) to identify clinical and psychosocial predictors of relapse during pregnancy in those who maintain or discontinue antidepressants; and (3) to assess perinatal outcome and its relationship to depressive symptomatology in pregnancy. The three participating sites for this investigation include the Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry, Clinical Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School (Dr. Cohen), Women's Life Center and Mood Disorders Research, UCLA (Dr. Altshuler), Emory University School of Medicine (Dr. Stowe). Subjects who have euthymic for at least three months and who have not discontinued antidepressant more than six weeks prior to conception will be accessioned early in their pregnancy and will be followed longitudinally from the first trimester of pregnancy through delivery. Given the prevalence of major depression during the childbearing years and the growing numbers of women who receive treatment with antidepressants, it is crucial to identify those women who may be able to safely discontinue antidepressant treatment during pregnancy as well as those who are particularly vulnerable to relapse. Delineating of these subgroups provides an opportunity to screen for women """"""""at risk"""""""" for relapse and allows for thoughtful treatment plan.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH056555-01A2
Application #
2794913
Study Section
Health Behavior and Prevention Review Committee (HBPR)
Program Officer
Gonzales, Junius J
Project Start
1998-12-01
Project End
2003-11-30
Budget Start
1998-12-01
Budget End
1999-11-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Hostetter, A; Stowe, Z N; Strader Jr, J R et al. (2000) Dose of selective serotonin uptake inhibitors across pregnancy: clinical implications. Depress Anxiety 11:51-7