Antidepressants in pregnancy not tied to extra autism or ADHD risk beyond maternal depression, study finds
In a study of more than 167,000 children in Wales, autism and ADHD rates were similar whether a mother’s depression was treated with antidepressants or left untreated. Depression itself, however, was linked to more special educational needs.
Antidepressants taken by pregnant women do not appear to increase the risk of autism or ADHD in their children beyond the impact of the mother's own depression, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine. The research, led by Saraid McIlvride at the University of Glasgow, analyzed data from over 167,000 children born in Wales between 2009 and 2016.
Children whose mothers had untreated depression had a 23.6 per 100 chance of needing special educational support, compared to 26.5 per 100 for children whose mothers were prescribed antidepressants without a depression diagnosis, and 26.3 per 100 for those exposed to both. The study suggests that maternal depression may drive any apparent increased risk associated with antidepressant use during pregnancy.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
