Why the Evidence-Backed Benefits of Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy Outweigh Risks by Parents magazine

A recent FDA panel meeting on the use of SSRIs during pregnancy has sparked widespread concern among mental health and reproductive health experts. While much of the discussion focused on potential risks, the benefits of these medications—when they are needed—were left out entirely. Providers worry that this one-sided conversation could deepen stigma, fuel misinformation, and even lead some pregnant individuals to stop their medication abruptly, which can carry serious risks for both parent and baby.

In the Parents magazine coverage of the meeting, Dr. Emma Basch, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in reproductive mental health, noted: "This panel was composed primarily of non-specialists who are on the record against the use of SSRIs. Nothing has changed in the data or guidance to prompt this meeting."

The conversation around a potential black box warning has been especially troubling to experts, who fear it could cause panic and discourage people from getting care they need. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) publicly criticized the panel for focusing solely on risks while ignoring the very real dangers of untreated depression—one of the leading contributors to pregnancy-related death.

Dr. Basch and other specialists continue to stress that treatment decisions during pregnancy should be guided by comprehensive, evidence-based information, weighing both the potential risks of medication and the significant risks of not treating mental health conditions.