Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40632487›Full record

Observational studyDrug safety2025

Real-World Data Insights into Antidepressant Prescription and Adherence During Pregnancy in Catalonia (Spain).

Lucía Bellas, Lina Camacho-Arteaga, Maria Giner-Soriano, Albert-Prats-Uribe, Ainhoa Gómez-Lumbreras, Cristina Aguilera, Antonia Agustí

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Drug safety, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Lucía BellasDepartment of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8255-9841
Lina Camacho-ArteagaDepartment of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. linafernanda.camacho@uab.cat.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9609-0394
Maria Giner-SorianoFundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3750-9233
Albert-Prats-UribePharmaco- and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-9153
Ainhoa Gómez-LumbrerasCollege of Pharmacy, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3916-0402
Cristina AguileraClinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7985-7327
Antonia AgustíDepartment of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4594-1122

Funding

Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation in Health SLT21/21/000068
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAffective disorders, particularly depression, are common among women of childbearing age, and pregnancy often exacerbates symptoms. Antidepressants are often required for treatment, but adherence during pregnancy is variable. Although some studies suggest potential risks to the foetus, many cannot rule out confounding by indication. In this context, understanding real-world patterns of antidepressant prescription and adherence during pregnancy is essential to inform clinical practice and ensure adequate mental healthcare.

objectiveThe aim of the present study was to characterise the use of antidepressants in a cohort of pregnant women using electronic health records.

methodsThis observational cohort drug-utilisation study assessed antidepressant prescription patterns, adherence and persistence among pregnant women using data from the SIDIAP (Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care) database in Catalonia from January 2011 to June 2020.

resultsAmong 99,605 pregnancies, 14.9% involved antidepressant prescriptions, but only 5.8% of these were collected from pharmacies. The median pregnancy duration was 38.4 weeks, and the median maternal age was 33.5 years. Anxiety was the most common health issue associated with an antidepressant prescription. Paroxetine was the most frequently prescribed antidepressant, although sertraline usage increased over time. Antidepressant prescriptions and adherence decreased during pregnancy, with an increase in the postpartum period. About 11.6% of pregnancies involved a concurrent prescription of another antidepressant, and 29.2% of women resumed antidepressant use after pregnancy. Women who initiated antidepressants during pregnancy were more likely to persist with treatment than those with pre-existing prescriptions.

conclusionsOur study describes antidepressant use during pregnancy in Catalonia. It is remarkable that there is a notable gap between antidepressant prescriptions and dispensations. Given the risks of untreated maternal depression, strengthening primary care with adequate resources and personalised support is essential for improving perinatal mental healthcare.

Indexed as

Antidepressive AgentsDepressionMedication AdherencePregnancy ComplicationsAdultCohort StudiesDrug PrescriptionsElectronic Health RecordsFemaleHumansPractice Patterns, Physicians'PregnancySpainYoung AdultAntidepressive Agents

Identifiers

PMID40632487
PMCPMC12605430

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.