Effects and Consequences for Mother and Child From Treatment for Depression

Effects and Consequences for Mother and Child From Treatment for Depression, A Prospective Randomized, Placebo- Controlled, Trial With Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Sertraline or Placebo for Moderate Depression in Pregnancy

This study targets women with moderate depression during pregnancy. We aim to investigate the direct effect of the newborn child and the long term consequences on the cognitive developement on children who´s mother has been treated with CBT alone or in combination with antidepressants.

The primary objective is to study the direct neonatal effects and the long-term consequences on cognitive development in children prenatal exposed to maternal sertraline treatment compared to exposure to maternal depression treated with only ICBT.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female > 18 years old
2. Pregnant, gestational week 9-21.
3. Verified moderate depression according to SCID-I with or without concomitant anxiety disorder.
4. Signed informed consent
5. Able to understand the Swedish language orally and in written and able to use the internet for the ICBT, including having succeded in filling out online questionnaires
6. Are willing to participate to all study visits
7. Plans to give birth at the Department of Obstetrics at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge or at additional study site such as Norrland University Hospital (NUS), Umeå

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Known drug or alcohol abuse 2. Serious psychiatric disorder such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, severe personality disorder, ADHD/ADD, autism or mental retardation) and severe melancholic or psychotic depression.

  3. Known idiosyncrasy to Zoloft or allergy to one of the Zoloft excipients 4. Ongoing medication with SSRI, SNRI, TCA, mood-stabilizers, antiepileptic drugs ,psychotropic drugs, tramadol, propafenon, tolbutamid, flekainid, psychostimulants and atomoxetine, insulin or steroids 5. Any severe somatic disease that necessitate regular treatment with systemic steroids, severe heart and lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, or epilepsy with drug treatment.

  6. Women who either during screening or treatment on self-assessment forms (MADRS-S: 4 or more points on question about suicidal ideation (question 9)) report symptoms of severe suicidal thoughts or suicide plans will be contacted for structured suicide risk assessment by telephone (by experienced staff from the unit for internet psychiatry according to clinical routine). If judged necessary patients will be booked for psychiatric assessment by study nurse. If acute assessment or care is judged necessary, referral to psychiatric emergency departments will be made according to the same routine as in regular care.

Also women, who contact the study personal and report symptoms of suicidal thoughts or suicide plans will receive psychiatric assessment as specified above. Women who according to psychiatric assessment have a high suicidal risk will be excluded from the study. These women will be actively transferred into necessary psychiatric treatment as usual.

7. Other factors that are clinical significant and could jeopardize study results or its intention, as judged by study psychiatrist or study obstetrician