Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Dissertation Defense

Friday, December 15, 2023

10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Caichen (Karol) Zhong, MPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, will present "Maternal Psychotropic Medication Use During Pregnancy and Child Health Outcomes."

Medication use during pregnancy presents considerations for both the mother and child. Antiseizure medications (ASMs) are critical for the management of conditions such as epilepsy, as well as non-epileptic neurological conditions and psychiatric disorders. However, the use of medication during pregnancy is complicated by teratogenic effects and the link to other adverse birth or neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring, like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While the safety of ASMs during pregnancy has been extensively investigated, most studies did not adequately address confounding, and its impact on gestational age-related outcomes also remains inconclusive. Moreover, previous studies have provided valuable insights into medication use among pregnant women in the general population, yet fewer have examined medication use in pregnancies with a predisposition to adverse birth outcomes and neurodevelopmental disorders. To further understand the risk profile of common ASMs, this study examined the risks of child gestational-age related outcomes and major congenital malformations associated with ASM monotherapy during pregnancy. Additionally, to contribute to the current evidence, the study characterized maternal medication use during pregnancy in families with at least one child with ASD.

Caichen (Karol) Zhong is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology, working with Dr. Kristen Lyall and Dr. Brian K. Lee. Her research focuses on maternal medication use during pregnancy and modifiable risk factors associated with child health outcomes.

Contact Information

Nancy Colon-Anderson
nanderson@drexel.edu