Original Research J Clin Psychiatry August 2026

Obstetric Risk Associated With Stimulant Versus Nonstimulant Treatment During Pregnancy

JCP 2026;87(3):10.4088/JCP.26m16372

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. JCP 2026;87(3):10.4088/JCP.26m16372 Clinical Summary Pregnant patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and their clinicians often have to choose between continuing medication and accepting uncertain obstetric risk, while discontinuation can also impair functioning. This study addresses that everyday clinical dilemma by comparing stimulant and nonstimulant exposure during pregnancy across a broad range of maternal and placental outcomes in a very large real-world cohort. FAQ What did this study find about stimulant use during pregnancy and obstetric risk? 9 questions
Key Takeaways This analysis drew from a very large EHR cohort of 894,986 women, but medication-exposed groups were much smaller (3,465 prescribed stimulants and 575 prescribed nonstimulants), so clinicians should read these findings as observational signal-detection evidence rather than causal safety estimates. 6 takeaways Clinical Guide How should clinicians counsel a pregnant patient about continuing stimulant versus nonstimulant ADHD medication? 6 steps Clinical Guide How should clinicians monitor a pregnant patient who continues stimulant or nonstimulant ADHD medication? 7 steps
Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. (PPP) makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry or other PPP materials, and disclaims liability for any use or non-use of that information. Clinicians should not rely solely on these materials and should exercise their own professional judgment when making patient care decisions on an individualized basis.

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