Antidepressant Use While Pregnant Might Increase Autism

The risk of autism may be doubled in those who take antidepressants during their pregnancies. These antidepressants include Prozac and Zoloft, which are classified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRI's. Autism is a disorder that can limit a child's ability to communicate that typically manifests in the first three years of a child's life. Although the exact cause is unknown, many theories have been implicated, as noted by Mayo Clinic, such as exposure to air pollution, viruses and genetic problems.

Study Numbers

According to a report from Health.com, "Children who were exposed to the drugs during the first trimester were nearly four times as likely to develop an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with unexposed children." The study included less than 300 children who were diagnosed with autism and does not confirm that taking antidepressants taking while pregnant directly causes autism, which affects about 1 percent of kids living in United States.

Risk vs. Benefits

Although the study, which was led by Director of Autism Research at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Lisa Croen, PhD points to an association, the findings need to be interpreted with trepidation. Dr. Croen goes on to say that "we can't detect causality from one study." She also emphasizes that "the potential risks to the child really have to be balanced with the risk to the untreated mom. We don't want people to rush off and stop taking antidepressants if they're on them." It is critically important for patients to talk to their physicians about the risk versus benefit implications.

Additional Concerns of Antidepressants

In addition to the possibility of autism, antidepressants have been categorized as a "C" grade for safety when used during pregnancy. This means that when taken at high dosages, drugs may be linked to birth defects in animal studies. However, they have not been either proven safe or unsafe in people, since very few studies have been performed. High concentrations of serotonin in a woman's womb can produce autism-type behavior and alter brain architecture. So, since antidepressants work on increasing levels of serotonin, the autism - antidepressant theory may indeed, be plausible.

What to Look for

Since symptoms of early autism can sometimes go undetected because they are so subtle, there are signs that people should watch out for. For example, if a child fails to make eye contact with people close to him or has difficulty forming friendships with his peers, the pediatrician should be notified. In addition, children who lack empathy or have little interest in his surroundings or other people, should be evaluated for autism. Some significant symptoms of autism include not speaking, focusing on pieces of an object instead of the entire object and the need for strict routines or regimes. Although these signs may be perfectly innocuous, they need to be evaluated by a health care professional who has expertise in the diagnosing and treatment of autism. This is especially true if the mother took antidepressants during her pregnancy, in light of this new study.

Gina Pisano is a registered nurse with over 20 years experience in various clinical settings, such as emergency room nursing, labor & delivery, surgical services, intensive care, geriatrics, pediatrics and general medicine.