Trial lecture - time and place
02.06.2023, 10.15, Auditorium 2, Helga Eng
Nonadherence to and discontinuation of chronic psychotropic medications in pregnancy: prevalence and implications for mother and infants
Conferral summary
Denne avhandlingen undersøkte om mors bruk av angstdempende medisin og sovemedisin i svangerskapet kan påvirke barnets nevroutvikling. Resultatene antydet at barn som var eksponert for angstdempende medisin eller sovemedisin i svangerskapet hadde ingen økt risiko for atferdsproblemer, ADHD eller dårligere skoleprestasjoner, sammenlignet med barn som ikke var eksponert. Funnene i denne avhandlingen er betryggende for gravide kvinner med behov for disse medisinene.
Main research findings
Can treatment with benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics during pregnancy affect the unborn child’s brain development? Benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics are medications mainly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia. Globally, around 2% of pregnant women are prescribed benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics. Yet, our knowledge about the long-term safety for the unborn child is limited. Therefore, this thesis focused on increasing our knowledge of the safety of benzodiazepine and z-hypnotic use during pregnancy on children’s behavior problems, ADHD and school performance. The results indicated no increased risk of behavior problems in 5-year-old children, and suggested that exposure according to timing and duration do not affect childhood ADHD. However, for the potential of an effect of long-term use, more studies are needed. Lastly, the findings did not suggest any effects of mothers starting treatment with benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics at different time points during pregnancy on the children’s performance in standardized 5th grade tests. Overall, the findings provide reassurance for pregnant women in need of benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics. However, the findings must be interpreted with caution due to low study samples, which limited the statistical precision.
Read more (in Norwegian)
- Liten grunn til angst for bruk av angstdemparar under svangerskapet (9. mai 2023)
- Gravide kan bruka benzodiazepinar utan auka risiko for ADHD hjå babyen (17. mars 2023)