Babies exposed to antipsychotic medication in the womb do not appear to have a “meaningfully increased” risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, according to a large study.

Although antipsychotics are known to cross the placenta — and data from animal studies suggest potential neurotoxic effects — information regarding human neurodevelopmental teratogenicity is limited, US researchers say.

They added, however, that a “potential signal” identified for aripiprazole, which is mainly prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, requires replication in other data before a causal link can be assumed.

The team, led by Dr Loreen Straub from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, examined data from 3.4 million children followed for up to 14 years.