Effect of antenatal micronutrient or antidepressant exposure on Brazelton neonatal behavioral assessment scale (NBAS) performance within one-month of birth

Abstract

Background: Antenatal depression is a risk factor for poor infant outcomes. Broad-spectrum-micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) have shown efficacy in treating psychiatric symptoms in non-pregnant populations and are associated with reduced incidence of adverse birth outcomes, and improvements in neonatal development. We investigated the effects of treatment of antenatal depression with micronutrients above the Recommended Dietary Allowance on infant development compared to treatment with antidepressant medications and controls. Method: One-hundred-and-three infants were assessed using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) within 28 days of birth: 37 exposed to micronutrients in-utero (50–182 days exposure), 18 to antidepressants in-utero (exposure for full gestation), and 48 controls whose mothers received neither treatment nor experienced depressive symptoms. Results: Controlling for gestational age and parity, there were significant group differences on habituation, orientation, motor, state regulation, autonomic stability and reflexes (p < .05). Micronutrient-exposed performed better than antidepressant-exposed and controls on habituation, motor and autonomic stability (p