Stopping Antidepressants During Pregnancy Doubles Mental Health Emergency Risk

New research finds pregnant patients who discontinued antidepressants were nearly twice as likely to experience a mental health crisis.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2026 Pregnancy Meeting found that pregnant patients who stopped taking their antidepressant medication during pregnancy were almost twice as likely to experience a mental health emergency compared to those who continued their prescription. The research examined records from over 3,900 patients diagnosed with depression or anxiety before pregnancy and taking SSRI or SNRI antidepressants.

Why it matters

Mental health disorders are the largest contributor to maternal mortality in the U.S., and untreated or undertreated depression during pregnancy carries significant health risks. This study underscores the importance of prioritizing pregnant patients' mental health and offering a full range of treatment options, including medications when clinically appropriate.

The details

The study's researchers found no difference in outpatient or emergency room visits for mental health issues prior to pregnancy between patients who continued taking their antidepressant and those who did not. However, patients who stopped taking their antidepressant therapy during pregnancy had an almost two-fold higher risk of having a mental health emergency, with peaks in the first and ninth months of pregnancy.

  • The study examined records of patients who gave birth between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024.
  • The findings will be published in the February 2026 issue of PREGNANCY, the official peer-reviewed medical journal of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

The players

Kelly B. Zafman, MD, MSCR

A maternal-fetal medicine fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the lead researcher on the study.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)

The medical professional society for obstetricians who have additional training in high-risk, complicated pregnancies, representing more than 6,500 members.

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What they’re saying

“These findings, while not entirely surprising to those who work with pregnant patients who suffer from mental health conditions, are so important to consider for maternal health policy. This work underscores the need to take pregnant patients' mental health seriously and to offer the full range of treatment options — including medications when clinically appropriate. Confronting the maternal mental health crisis is essential to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.”

— Kelly B. Zafman, MD, MSCR, maternal-fetal medicine fellow (PREGNANCY)

What’s next

The oral abstract #16 "Contemporary patterns and outcomes of antidepressant discontinuation in pregnancy" will be published in the February 2026 issue of PREGNANCY, the official peer-reviewed medical journal of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

The takeaway

This study highlights the critical need to prioritize and properly manage mental health care for pregnant patients, as discontinuing antidepressant treatment can significantly increase the risk of mental health emergencies and other serious health consequences. Providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental health support during pregnancy is essential to improving maternal outcomes and reducing maternal mortality in the United States.