RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Medication of Postpartum Depression and Maternal Outcomes
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1021-11986R1
DO 10.3368/jhr.1021-11986R1
A1 Janet Currie
A1 Esmée Zwiers
YR 2023
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2023/06/01/jhr.1021-11986R1.abstract
AB We use data on over 420,000 first-time Dutch mothers to examine the effects of postpartum antidepressant use. Dutch general practitioners (GPs) must be available for house calls. We therefore instrument a woman’s receipt of antidepressants postpartum with local practitioners’ propensity to prescribe antidepressants to women 46 to 65. Ordinary least squares suggests negative effects of postpartum antidepressants but this is due to selection into treatment. Instrumental variables estimates indicate that the marginal treated patient is likely to continue taking antidepressants long term and is less likely to be employed in the year after birth, with little evidence of other effects.