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Effect of Exposure to Dothiepin and Northiaden in Breast Milk on Child Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Anne Buist  and
Helen Janson
Anne Buist*
Affiliation:
Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, Australia
Helen Janson
Affiliation:
Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, Australia
*
Dr Buist, Department of Psychiatry, Mercy Hospital for Women, Clarendon Street, East Melbourne 3002, Australia
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Abstract

Background

This study looks at the outcome of infants exposed to dothiepin in breast milk in an attempt to guide clinicians on the risk-benefit ratio of breast-feeding when on antidepressants.

Method

Thirty women, who had had HDRS scores > 15 within the first five years postpartum from the same women's hospital, were assessed with their children 3–5 years postpartum; half had breast-fed while on dothiepin (study group). Thirty-six non-depressed women were also assessed. Rating scales assessed depression, anxiety, self-esteem, personality, social support, marital relationship, child behaviour and temperament. The children were assessed by the McCarthy Scale.

Results

Comparisons of the two depressed groups showed no significant differences on any measures except marital conflict and child behaviour, which were the most disturbed in the study group (P < 0.001). Overall cognitive scores for the children did not differ between the groups. Higher levels of dothiepin and northiaden were associated with higher cognitive scores on subscales (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

We are cautiously optimistic about the lack of any negative associations between cognitive development and exposure to dothiepin via breast milk.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 3 , September 1995 , pp. 370 - 373
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

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