Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Tied to Autism Risk
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 04 May 2014 |
A new study has uncovered an association between prenatal exposure to antidepressant medication, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and developmental delays (DD) in boys.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University (JHU; Baltimore, MD, USA) and the University of California Davis (UCD, USA) evaluated 966 mother-child pairs—492 ASD, 154 DD, and 320 with typical development (TD)—from the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) study to examine associations between prenatal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the odds of ASDs and DDs. Standardized measures were employed to confirm developmental status, and interviews with biological mothers ascertained prenatal SSRI use, maternal mental health history, and sociodemographic information.
The results showed that the prevalence of prenatal SSRI exposure was lowest in TD children (3.4%) but did not differ significantly from ASD (5.9%) or DD (5.2%) children. Among boys, prenatal SSRI exposure was nearly three times as likely in children with ASD relative to TD, with the strongest association tied to first-trimester exposure. Exposure was also elevated among boys with DD, and was strongest in the third trimester. The findings were similar among mothers with an anxiety or mood disorder history. The study was published online on April 14, 2014, in Pediatrics.
“This study provides further evidence that in some children, prenatal exposure to SSRIs may influence their risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder,” said senior author Irva Hertz-Picciotto, PhD, MPH, chief of the division of environmental and occupational health at UCD. “This research also highlights the challenge for women and their physicians to balance the risks versus the benefits of taking these medications, given that a mother's underlying mental-health conditions also may pose a risk, both to herself and her child.”
The prevalence of ADS continues to rise, and according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA), an estimated 1 in 68 children in the United States is identified with ADS, and it is almost five times more common among boys than girls. One of the hypothesized reasons is that since serotonin is critical to early brain development, exposure during pregnancy to anything that influences serotonin levels (such as an SSRI) can have potential effect on birth and developmental outcomes.
Related Links:
Johns Hopkins University
University of California Davis
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University (JHU; Baltimore, MD, USA) and the University of California Davis (UCD, USA) evaluated 966 mother-child pairs—492 ASD, 154 DD, and 320 with typical development (TD)—from the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) study to examine associations between prenatal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the odds of ASDs and DDs. Standardized measures were employed to confirm developmental status, and interviews with biological mothers ascertained prenatal SSRI use, maternal mental health history, and sociodemographic information.
The results showed that the prevalence of prenatal SSRI exposure was lowest in TD children (3.4%) but did not differ significantly from ASD (5.9%) or DD (5.2%) children. Among boys, prenatal SSRI exposure was nearly three times as likely in children with ASD relative to TD, with the strongest association tied to first-trimester exposure. Exposure was also elevated among boys with DD, and was strongest in the third trimester. The findings were similar among mothers with an anxiety or mood disorder history. The study was published online on April 14, 2014, in Pediatrics.
“This study provides further evidence that in some children, prenatal exposure to SSRIs may influence their risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder,” said senior author Irva Hertz-Picciotto, PhD, MPH, chief of the division of environmental and occupational health at UCD. “This research also highlights the challenge for women and their physicians to balance the risks versus the benefits of taking these medications, given that a mother's underlying mental-health conditions also may pose a risk, both to herself and her child.”
The prevalence of ADS continues to rise, and according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA), an estimated 1 in 68 children in the United States is identified with ADS, and it is almost five times more common among boys than girls. One of the hypothesized reasons is that since serotonin is critical to early brain development, exposure during pregnancy to anything that influences serotonin levels (such as an SSRI) can have potential effect on birth and developmental outcomes.
Related Links:
Johns Hopkins University
University of California Davis
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Latest Patient Care News
- First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
- Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
- Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
- Next Gen ICU Bed to Help Address Complex Critical Care Needs
- Groundbreaking AI-Powered UV-C Disinfection Technology Redefines Infection Control Landscape
- Clean Hospitals Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance, Save Lives
- Smart Hospital Beds Improve Accuracy of Medical Diagnosis
- New Fast Endoscope Drying System Improves Productivity and Traceability
- World’s First Automated Endoscope Cleaner Fights Antimicrobial Resistance
- Portable High-Capacity Digital Stretcher Scales Provide Precision Weighing for Patients in ER
- Portable Clinical Scale with Remote Indicator Allows for Flexible Patient Weighing Use
- Innovative and Highly Customizable Medical Carts Offer Unlimited Configuration Possibilities
- Biomolecular Wound Healing Film Adheres to Sensitive Tissue and Releases Active Ingredients
- Wearable Health Tech Could Measure Gases Released From Skin to Monitor Metabolic Diseases
- Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator System Protects Patients at Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- World's First AI-Ready Infrasound Stethoscope Listens to Bodily Sounds Not Audible to Human Ear