Impact of maternal prenatal and parental postnatal stress on 1-year-old child development: results from the OTIS antidepressants in pregnancy study.

Perinatal psychological stress has been associated with unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. We aimed to assess the impact of perinatal stress on infant development at 1 year of age. We recruited pregnant women calling North American Teratogen Information Services or attending outpatient clinics at CHU Sainte Justine (Montreal) between 2008 and 2010 and their spouses.

The ASQ and R-PDQ telephone-administered validation within the OTIS antidepressant in pregnancy study.

This study aimed to assess the telephone administration of the 12-month Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and the 9- to 24-month Revised Prescreening Denver Questionnaire (R-PDQ) using the Antidepressants in Pregnancy Study cohort from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists. The ASQ includes five domains (communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social). The R-PDQ tests four areas of development (gross motor, fine motor, personal-social, and language).

Reliability and validity of the 4-item perceived stress scale among pregnant women: results from the OTIS antidepressants study.

We aimed to estimate the reliability of the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and its validity in predicting maternal depression and quality of life (QoL). Data regarding stress, depression and QoL were collected during pregnancy among a sub-sample from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Antidepressants in Pregnancy Cohort. The 4-item PSS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = .

Montelukast use during pregnancy: a multicentre, prospective, comparative study of infant outcomes.

Background: Montelukast (Singulair) is a selective leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma. Currently, there are limited prospective, comparative studies in the literature examining the safety of montelukast use in pregnancy.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether exposure to montelukast during pregnancy increases the rate of major malformations above the 1–3% baseline risk or the rate of other adverse effects.

Addressing concerns of pregnant and lactating women after the 2005 hurricanes: the OTIS response.

Natural disasters are devastating for anyone affected, but pregnant and breastfeeding women often have specific concerns about the effects of certain exposures (such as infections, chemicals, medications, and stress) on their fetus or breastfed child. For this reason, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered to provide information for women and healthcare professionals about the effects of exposures on pregnancy and breastfeeding after the hurricanes of 2005. This service expanded on OTIS's existing telephone counseling and fact sheets.

Exposure to mirtazapine during pregnancy: a prospective, comparative study of birth outcomes.

Background: Mirtazapine is a novel piperazinoazepine antidepressant, unrelated to any known class of antidepressants. Currently, apart from a few case reports and case series in the literature, there are no studies evaluating the safety of this drug during pregnancy.

Objective: To determine whether mirtazapine increases the risk for major malformations in newborns when used by pregnant women.

A survey of pregnant women using isotretinoin.

Background: Isotretinoin is a known human teratogen, causing birth defects and/or subnormal cognitive performance in prenatally-exposed children.

Methods: A survey was conducted among women who called teratology information services throughout North America. Using a structured questionnaire, women with an isotretinoin-exposed pregnancy were prospectively interviewed before the outcome of the pregnancy was known.

Pregnancy outcome of women exposed to bupropion during pregnancy: a prospective comparative study.

Objective: Bupropion was developed for the treatment of depression, but subsequently was found to be effective for smoking cessation. To date, there are no prospective comparative studies examining its safety in pregnancy. The primary objective was to determine whether bupropion increases the risks for major malformations above baseline.

A multicentre prospective controlled study to determine the safety of trazodone and nefazodone use during pregnancy.

Objectives: Trazodone and nefazodone are phenylpiperazine antidepressants. Currently, there are no adequate, well-controlled studies on the fetal safety of these drugs. Our primary objective was to determine whether the use of trazodone or nefazodone during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for major malformations.