outcomes at 6 years of age after exposure to monotherapy
with valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, or phenytoin.
Interim results at 3 years in 309 children show that children
exposed to valproate had an average IQ score nine points
lower than children exposed to lamotrigine, seven points
lower than those exposed to phenytoin, and six points
lower than those exposed to carbamazepine. IQ scores did
not differ significantly between lamotrigine, carbamazepine,
or phenytoin. A subsequent analysis of 216 children from
the same group revealed that verbal abilities were lower
than non-verbal abilities in children exposed to each of
these AEDs. It was recently revealed that these effects
persisted at 6 years of age as well. The association between
exposure to valproate and autism spectrum disorder has
recently been confirmed in a population-based Danish
register study.
Antidepressants
The Swedish National Birth Registry, from 1995-2007, was
reviewed. This is a prospective study that included almost
all pregnant women in Sweden. More than 14000 women
had an exposure to an antidepressant, with over 12000 with
an early exposure as defined before the first prenatal visit at
10 to 12 weeks. This review noted a statistically significant
increase in preterm births. This effect was strongest with
exposure to the tricyclic antidepressants