• 07
  • July
    2011

In our previous post, we noted that new research by the Autism Research Program at Kaiser Permanente in California shows that mothers taking antidepressants during pregnancy may be at increased risk for having a child with an autism spectrum disorder.

One of the issues sparking the research was whether maternal depression or the antidepressants used to treat the treatment are responsible for the increased risk of autism. The study seems to indicate that it is the treatment itself.

According to Lisa Croen, the director of the Autism Research Program, "Almost everybody getting an antidepressant has some mental health disorder, and our study adds to the body of knowledge that shows that a family history of mental health problems may be associated with autism. But our study indicates that it isn't necessarily the mental health disorder, it was the treatment." According to Croen, controlling for the treatment didn't lead to any increased risk of autism rising from maternal depression.

Between 7 and 13 percent of women are treated for depression during pregnancy. Many doctors feel that leaving depression untreated decreases a woman's chances of a having a healthy pregnancy, birth and post-natal period. According to the researchers, woman should not cease taking their medication based on the study. Croen said that most antidepressants are classified by the FDA as being neither safe nor unsafe during pregnancy. In all likelihood, researchers say, the study will simply spark more discussion between doctors and patients about potential alternative treatments for depression during pregnancy.

Genetic factors were not examined in the study, but Croen says that it is possible that the same genetic susceptibilities toward depression in mothers are connected to tendencies toward autism in their children. Future research will almost certnaly attempt to sort out the relationship between the various potential factors involved in the development of autism.

Source: Time, "Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Linked to Higher Risk of Autism," Alice Park, 5 July 2011.