The Role of Medication, Mental Illness, and Social Isolation on the Development of the Fetus in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As we enter the COVID-19 post-pandemic period, uncertainty surrounds the impact of the varied effects of medications, mental illness, and social isolation on children born during the pandemic. Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines during pregnancy, coupled with pandemic-induced social isolation, may contribute to anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues in the offspring. Supporting evidence shows SSRIs' influence on brain development, while third-trimester benzodiazepine use may lead to neonatal withdrawal syndrome. Social isolation during the pandemic has also been linked to increased maternal depression and anxiety. This editorial emphasizes the need for increased surveillance in educational settings and early behavioral assessments by pediatricians. Further research is required to understand the long-term effects of maternal SSRIs. This knowledge can aid in timely interventions to protect the well-being of children born during COVID-19.

Keywords: antidepressants; anxiolytics; benzodiazepines; covid-19; maternal medications; maternal mental illness; neonatal withdrawal syndrome; social isolation; ssri.