Basic information

Investigator: MUDr. Antonín Šebela, Ph.D.
Main recipient: National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ)
Co-recipient: University Hospital Ostrava
Research period: 1/1/2026 - 31/12/2029
Total budget: 8,495,000 CZK
NIMH budget: 5,499,000CZK
Supported by: ZV (Czech Health Research Council)

Annotation

Our observational cohort study aims to assess the impact of maternal psychiatric illness during pregnancy and its treatment on early postpartum adaptation and neurobehavioral development of the child in the first year of life. The aim is to determine whether prenatal exposure to maternal mental illness or prenatal exposure to psychiatric pharmacological treatment poses a greater risk to child development.

The research follows three cohorts longitudinally: pregnant women taking SSRI antidepressants, pregnant women with clinical symptoms of depression who do not take medication and do not want to take medication, and a control group with no depression and no medication. The study also collects data on prenatal development, early adaptation, and psychomotor development of exposed children of mothers from each cohort.

In the study, we not only examine the potential impact of in utero exposure to depression and antidepressants on the exposed child, but also the potential impact of in utero exposure to other psychiatric medications and mental disorders. During the project, we will also look at potential confounding factors that may affect early adaptation and development of the child, such as psychosocial stress present in the mother during pregnancy, socioeconomic status of the family, and somatic complications in the mother during pregnancy.

The expected results (articles in foreign scientific journals with impact factor, articles in Czech scientific journals) will contribute to improve guidelines for pharmacological treatment of mental disorders in pregnancy.