P G Grieve1, W P Fifer2, N P Cousy3, C E Monk4, R I Stark5, J A Gingrich6, M M Myers6. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: pgg3@columbia.edu. 2. New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. 3. Cape Services, 22 rue Pierre Mendès, Torcy 77200, France. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. 6. Columbia University Medical Center, Psychiatry, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Increasingly, serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications are prescribed in pregnancy. These medications pass freely into the developing fetus but little is known about their effect on brain development in humans. In this study we determine if prenatal maternal depression and SSRI medication change the EEG infant delta brush bursts which are an early marker of normal brain maturation. METHODS: We measured delta brush bursts from the term infants of three groups of mothers (controls (N = 52), depressed untreated (N = 15), and those taking serotonin SSRI medication (N = 10). High density EEGs were obtained during sleep at an average age of 44 weeks post conceptional age. We measured the rate of occurrence, brush amplitude, oscillation frequency and duration of the bursts. RESULTS: Compared to infants of control mothers, the parameters of delta brush bursts of the offspring of depressed and SSRI-using mothers are significantly altered: burst amplitude is decreased; the oscillation frequency increased, and the duration increased (SSRI only). These significant differences were found during both sleep states. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocortical bursting activity (i.e. delta brushes) is known to play an important role in early central nervous system (CNS) synaptic formation and function. SIGNIFICANCE: Maternal depression or SSRI use may alter brain function in their offspring.
OBJECTIVE: Increasingly, serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications are prescribed in pregnancy. These medications pass freely into the developing fetus but little is known about their effect on brain development in humans. In this study we determine if prenatal maternal depression and SSRI medication change the EEG infant delta brush bursts which are an early marker of normal brain maturation. METHODS: We measured delta brush bursts from the term infants of three groups of mothers (controls (N = 52), depressed untreated (N = 15), and those taking serotonin SSRI medication (N = 10). High density EEGs were obtained during sleep at an average age of 44 weeks post conceptional age. We measured the rate of occurrence, brush amplitude, oscillation frequency and duration of the bursts. RESULTS: Compared to infants of control mothers, the parameters of delta brush bursts of the offspring of depressed and SSRI-using mothers are significantly altered: burst amplitude is decreased; the oscillation frequency increased, and the duration increased (SSRI only). These significant differences were found during both sleep states. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocortical bursting activity (i.e. delta brushes) is known to play an important role in early central nervous system (CNS) synaptic formation and function. SIGNIFICANCE: Maternal depression or SSRI use may alter brain function in their offspring.
Authors: M M Myers; P G Grieve; R I Stark; J R Isler; M A Hofer; J Yang; R J Ludwig; M G Welch Journal: Acta Paediatr Date: 2015-04-13 Impact factor: 2.299
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