Mothers Taking Antidepressants 2x more Likely to Have Autistic Child, Study Says
Reported statistics vary, but about 1 in 88 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder. The condition can manifest itself as severe mental retardation or mild behavioral issues. But it’s the rate of autism and it’s steady increase over the past several decades that has researchers searching for a cause or even contributing factors. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Northen Caroline may have found one cause to add to the list – mom’s antidepressant use.
Their study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, looked at children who were diagnosed with autism and a random group of undiagnosed children. Then, they compared the mothers’ medical records.
What they found was that a pregnant mother’s anti-depressant use was linked to a higher incidence of autism. This is a correlation.
Mothers who took antidepressants during pregnancy were twice as likely to give birth to a child with autism. The risk was significantly increased when the mother took anti-depressants in the first trimester. Then, the risk was three times higher.
“Our results suggests a possible, albeit small, risk to the unborn child associated with in utero exposure to SSRIs,” said Lisa Croen, lead researcher.
SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors represent the most commonly prescribed mental health drugs on the market. An estimated one-in-ten Americans take these anti-depressants. In other words, if all research pointed an accusing finger at anti-depressants, the pharmaceutical makers would take a major hit.
The researchers are cautious to put a dent in the profits of Big Pharma, telling people to carefully weigh the risks of anti-depressants with the benefits, saying that untreated depression has its own risks. (Maybe they aren’t aware of the evidence that says anti-depressants can actually make people more depressed and lead to suicidal thoughts.) What’s more, anti-depressants have been shown to hasten the thickening of arteries, contributing to heart disease.
What they fail to mention is that depression can often be successfully treated with diet, exercise, and natural solutions. Vitamin D, yoga, and acupuncture are just a few natural alternatives—ones that don’t come with unpleasant side effects like increased autism risk or suicidal tendencies. Choose holistic treatment for depression instead of harmful medication.
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Little worried about this article. Too often we blame the mother when something is 'wrong' with the child. You are reporting a 'correlation', not hard evidence, and a 'baby born with autism'. In my experience, most cases won't be diagnosed or even suspected/detected until the child is a toddler or older. Between 1st trimester and toddler-hood there are many exposures to many things that can be related to autism.
The simple truth is that we don't know what causes autism.
Worrying pregnant mothers won't help. If there are concerns about medication those concerns need to be addressed on an individual bases together with a care provider or care team.
Very disappointed about this correlation being published. Then again their is no such thing as bad news as long as it gets a response, right? As if mom's don't feel guilty enough. Cornelia responded to this article very well. I second the "Amen"!
The primary job of "care providers" nowadays is pushing pills. Since SSRIs cross the placenta advising pregnant women to avoid taking them seems perfectly reasonable.
Amen Cornelia!
I would like to know on the flip side how that group of medicines effect if the father is taking those meds.- thanks!
source?
Anti-depressants are not without dangers. That is what this article is saying. There is risk of danger to the fetus with almost ANYTHING a mother ingests. This article is simply saying the same holds firm with anti-depressants. But alas there is hope and there are other ways to treat depression for those nine months!! Sunlight, Exercise, Vitamin D are a few of the FREE ways to treat depression.
I have depression and have been pharma free for three years now. I've never been clearer in my life.
I have a 22 year old on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum (mildly Aspie). I suffered depression in my mid-20's, but not during my pregnancy seven years later; I was offered anti-depressants but turned them down…..and eventually got through. We also need to remember that this disorder is being diagnosed far more widely than it was thirty years ago; iow is there an actual increase in numbers or have they always been there but unnoticed?
It seems sensible though to watch one's medicine intake carefully during those nine months. Poor mums, they get the blame for many things when in reality they've usually done nothing wrong.
MMR vaccine is a major culprit in causing autism….drcarley.com ………… reversingvaccineinduceddiseases.com