Maternal psychotropic medication and neonatal behavior

A sample of 29 psychiatrically ill women and a non-ill comparison group were recruited during pregnancy. Twelve of the ill mothers were receiving antipsychotic and anti-anxiety medication during the final trimester of pregnancy. The behavior of their infants was assessed at 3 and 14 days of age using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Compared to infants of non-ill mothers and infants of ill nonmedicated mothers, infants whose mothers received antipsychotic drugs - particularly those in the phenothiazine family - showed a stable pattern of poor neonatal motor functioning that included tremulousness, hypertonicity, and poor motor maturity. It was speculated that this behavior was symptomatic of a neonatal abstinence or withdrawal syndrome.