The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 192: 333-337. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.041541
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow A correction has been published
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Newham, J. J.
Right arrow Articles by McAllister-Williams, R. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Newham, J. J.
Right arrow Articles by McAllister-Williams, R. H.

Birth weight of infants after maternal exposure to typical and atypical antipsychotics: prospective comparison study{dagger}

James J. Newham, BSc, Psychiatry

University of Newcastle, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne

Simon H. Thomas, FRCP, MD

National Teratology Information Service, Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre Wolfson Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne

Karine MacRitchie, MD, MRCPsych, Psychiatry

University of Newcastle, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne

Patricia R. McElhatton, MSc, PhD, CBiol, MBiol

National Teratology Information Service, Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre Wolfson Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne

R. Hamish McAllister-Williams, PhD, MD, FRCPsych, Psychiatry

University of Newcastle, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Correspondence: R. H. McAllister-Williams, Psychiatry, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Email: R.H.McAllister-Williams{at}ncl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

J.J.N. has received consultancy fees from Eli Lilly. S.H.T. has undertaken consultancy work for Lundbeck (their product sertindole does not feature in the data-set) and has current (non-psychiatric) research funded by BMS. P.R.M. has received honoraria for speaking engagements from Eli Lilly and Janssen-Cilag, which have been used for educational purposes. R.H.M-W has received honoraria for speaking engagements and attendance at advisory boards for a number of pharmaceutical companies manufacturing antipsychotic drugs, including Janssen-Cilag, AstraZenecca, Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

{dagger} See editorial, pp. 321–322, this issue.

Background

The effects of in utero exposure to atypical antipsychotics on infant birth weight are unknown.

Aims

To determine whether atypical and typical antipsychotics differ in their effects on birth weight after maternal exposure during pregnancy.

Method

Prospective data on gestational age and birth weight collected by the National Teratology Information Service for infants exposed to typical (n=45) and atypical (n=25) antipsychotics was compared with data for a reference group of infants (n=38).

Results

Infants exposed to atypical antipsychotics had a significantly higher incidence of large for gestational age (LGA) than both comparison groups and a mean birth weight significantly heavier than those exposed to typical antipsychotics. In contrast those exposed to typical antipsychotics had a significantly lower mean birth weight and a higher incidence of small for gestational age infants than the reference group.

Conclusions

In utero exposure to atypical antipsychotic drugs may increase infant birth weight and risk of LGA.


Related articles in BJP:

Prescribing in pregnancy
Carol Paton
BJP 2008 192: 321-322. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

From the Editor’s desk
Peter Tyrer
BJP 2008 192: 400. [Full Text]  

Highlights of this issue
Sukhwinder S. Shergill
BJP 2008 192: A18. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Schizophr BullHome page
S. Gentile
Antipsychotic Therapy During Early and Late Pregnancy. A Systematic Review
Schizophr Bull, September 11, 2008; (2008) sbn107v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JWatch PsychiatryHome page
Emerging Perspectives: Psychotropic Drugs During Pregnancy -- New Data on Neonatal Outcomes
Journal Watch Psychiatry, July 14, 2008; 2008(714): 1 - 1.
[Full Text]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
C. Paton
Prescribing in pregnancy
The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2008; 192(5): 321 - 322.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Link between Birth weight, Gestational Diabetes, and atypical Antipsychotics
Geetha Desai, et al.
BJP Online, 8 Aug 2008 [Full text]