A study that tracked nearly 150,000 pregnancies in Canada over a decade-long period has found that taking antidepressants during the second or third trimester could increase the risk of the child developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by 87 per cent.
Science Alert reports three per cent of the children born during the study were exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy, and of those 0.7 per cent were subsequently diagnosed with ASD, the majority of them boys.
However, this figure is relative to the risk that already exists for autism even before medications are involved. But after taking into account factors such as the socio-economic status of the family, family history of autism, and the age of the mother and her history of depression, the researchers at the University of Montreal concluded the use of antidepressants was the strongest link in these higher risk children.
“Our study has established that taking antidepressants during the second or third trimester of pregnancy almost doubles the risk that the child will be diagnosed with autism by age seven,” lead researcher Anick Bérard said.
Not everyone is convinced though, and in fact, other studies have found no such link; a study of several thousand children in the US found no link between antidepressants and heightened autism risk, and a 2013 survey of nearly 670,000 children in Denmark came to the same conclusion.
Psychiatrist Bryan King for the autism centre at Seattle Children’s Hospital, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study, has reiterated how serious a disease depression is, and that untreated depression is associated with lack of nutrition and sleep, and high levels of fatigue and stress, which can cause problems in foetal development.
“This study looked only at one developmental outcome and there is no control group that would enable us to capture all of the potential harm that might have been prevented with the choice to treat depression,” he said.
“It is important that women have full discussions with their health care providers about the complex interplay of risks and benefits associated with depression treatment.”
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