Developmental outcomes after gestational antidepressant treatment with sertraline and its discontinuation in an animal model of maternal depression.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to women before or during pregnancy to manage their depressive symptoms. However, there is still little knowledge regarding the long-term development effects of SSRI exposure for the fetus or the effects of discontinuing SSRI treatment during pregnancy. This study utilized a translational animal model of maternal depression (based on giving high levels of corticosterone (CORT, 40 mg/kg, s.