A new study has found that stopping antidepressants during pregnancy can double the risk of serious mental health crises, with many women experiencing a worsening of underlying conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Researchers warn that discontinuing medication without proper medical guidance may significantly increase the likelihood of relapse, hospitalisation, or severe emotional distress during and after pregnancy.
Antidepressants are medications that help treat depression, anxiety, and related mental health conditions by balancing brain chemicals that affect mood and emotions. They are prescribed when symptoms are severe, long-lasting, or disrupt daily life, often alongside therapy, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The research team from the University of Pennsylvania found that pregnant patients who stopped taking their prescribed antidepressants were almost twice as likely to experience a mental health emergency compared with those who continued treatment.
The study analysed de-identified records from a state-based private insurance database, examining 3,983 patients who gave birth between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024. All had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety before pregnancy and had an active prescription for an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant in the three months leading up to conception.
Before pregnancy, both groups, those who later discontinued medication and those who continued, showed similar rates of outpatient visits and emergency room care for mental health concerns. This suggests that the severity of psychiatric illness at baseline was comparable. However, once pregnancy began, notable differences emerged.
Patients who stopped antidepressant therapy faced nearly twice the risk of mental health emergencies, including suicidal ideation, substance overdose, and psychosis. The spikes were most pronounced during the first and ninth months of pregnancy, periods often marked by significant hormonal, physical, and emotional changes.
“These findings highlight the importance of carefully weighing the risks and benefits before making decisions about stopping medication during pregnancy,” the researchers noted. “Untreated mental health conditions can pose serious risks to both mother and baby.”
They further emphasised that maternal mental health must be treated as a central component of prenatal care. “Pregnant patients deserve access to the full range of evidence-based treatment options, including medication when clinically appropriate. Addressing the maternal mental health crisis is critical to reducing preventable complications.”
Mental health experts say the study reinforces the need for individualised care and open conversations between patients and healthcare providers.
“Pregnancy is not a time for abrupt treatment changes without a clear, supervised plan,” one specialist explained. “For many women, the dangers of untreated depression or anxiety may outweigh the potential risks of continuing medication under medical guidance.”
Researchers hope the findings will encourage informed, patient-centred decision-making and strengthen policies that expand access to safe and supportive mental health care during pregnancy.
WHO notes that, when a pregnant patient stops taking antidepressants without medical guidance, several risks can arise. The underlying mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, may worsen, and the likelihood of relapse increases. Women who discontinue medication are also more susceptible to mental health emergencies, including suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or psychosis, which may require hospitalisation.
Untreated depression or anxiety during pregnancy can further affect maternal and fetal health, contributing to poor prenatal care, preterm birth, low birth weight, and a higher risk of postpartum depression. Therefore, abruptly stopping antidepressants during pregnancy can significantly endanger both the mother’s mental health and the well-being of the baby.
According to a World Mental Health Survey, roughly 3.1 per cent of people worldwide reported using antidepressant medication in the past year, with usage rates 2 to 4 times higher in high-income countries compared with low- and middle-income countries.
WHO also notes that depression is more common among women than men, affecting an estimated 6.9 per cent of adult women globally, compared with 4.6 per cent of adult men. Depression is about 1.5 times more prevalent in women, and studies indicate that over 10 per cent of pregnant and postpartum women worldwide experience depressive symptoms.
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