Pregnancy antidepressants increase the risk of autism in children

How does taking antidepressants during pregnancy affect children??
The use of medication during pregnancy involves some risks for mother and child. Researchers now found that taking antidepressants during pregnancy increases the likelihood of autism.

The researchers from the University of Bristol found in their current study that the children of mothers who take antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to develop autism. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Pregnant women taking antidepressants increase the likelihood of children developing autism. (Image: dubova / fotolia.com)

Antidepressants during pregnancy lead to an increased risk of autism in the children
When mothers took antidepressants during pregnancy, their children were at an increased risk of developing autism. The observed absolute risk is relatively low, it rises from 2.9 cases in 100 children to 4.1 cases, the experts explain.

Researchers are analyzing data from 254,610 people for their study
Researchers analyzed data from a total of 254,610 people aged four to 17 years in the current study. Among them were also 5,378 people with autism. Up to eight percent of pregnant women in the UK took antidepressants during pregnancy, the authors add.

What would be the impact if mothers stopped taking antidepressants??
Although the association between antidepressants and autism is causal, stopping mothers taking them during pregnancy could only prevent about two percent of all cases of the disease, the researchers explain.

Mood disorders or medications are the trigger for increased risk of autism?
It is possible that the increased risk of autism is due to the drugs, but perhaps the increased risk is also due to the effects of the mood disorder, the experts explain.

Depressive moods are more common in parents of children with autism
Given that previous family studies have already shown increased mood disorders in the parents of children with autism, the overlap of genetic factors between mood disorders and autism may also be involved, the researchers add. If there is a causal relationship between antidepressants and autism, then this relationship is very modest.

Further research is needed
There are also other factors besides antidepressants that could provide an explanation for the observed effects, the experts speculate. The current study raises some new questions. Further research is now needed to better understand its effects and relationships. (As)