Archives of women's mental health
Exposure to antidepressant and antipsychotic medicines in pregnant women and risk of gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
By Zhao X, Hu Z and Chen C.
Abstract
Background
Antidepressants and antipsychotics are commonly prescribed for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and severe anxiety disorders. Psychotropic medications are increasingly prescribed during pregnancy to manage severe mental illnesses. Concerns have been raised about their metabolic side effects, including the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze existing evidence on the risk of GDM development in pregnant women with prenatal exposure to two common psychotropics, antipsychotics and antidepressants.
Methods
We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science, up to June 2025, identifying observational studies reporting GDM outcomes following the use of psychotropic medicines during pregnancy. Eligible studies were reviewed, and pooled relative risks (RRs) were calculated using a random-effects model, with subgroup analyses based on medication classification.