The Relationship Between Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and Autism in Children

Recent research indicates that women who use antidepressants in the later months of pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children with autism. According to NBC News, this study focused on a specific group of antidepressants (SSRIs, which include Prozac and Zoloft). Dr. Anick Berard, from the research team at the University of Montreal, Canada, states, "The use of antidepressants, especially those belonging to the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) family during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, increases the risk of autism in children." The research team studied nearly 150,000 children born in Quebec, Canada, between 1998 and 2009. They found that about three percent of these children were born to mothers who used antidepressants, with one percent diagnosed with autism. However, these children often included those whose mothers used antidepressants during the second and third trimesters. More detailed research showed that these drugs were predominantly SSRIs, and there was no significant scientific relationship between other antidepressants and autism in children. Although researchers are concerned that the results may deter mothers from using antidepressants, specialists argue that the risk is very low. According to Scientific American, Dr. Berard believes that "depression is a serious issue that endangers individuals' health. This research does not suggest abandoning depression treatment but rather recommends seeking alternative options for some antidepressants during pregnancy." Dr. Eva Pressman, director of the Women's Health Center at the University of Rochester in New York, told NBC that the findings could be somewhat concerning, as even if these drugs affect children's health, the extent is very minimal. She states, "In general, pregnant women should take as few medications as possible, but sometimes the illness of depression is more dangerous than the medications and their side effects."