Key Takeaway:
- Large global study finds no causal link between antidepressant use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD risk in children.
- Higher developmental risks appear tied to genetics and family factors, not medication exposure.
- Experts warn stopping antidepressants during pregnancy can harm maternal and child health.
A global analysis of more than 25 million pregnancies finds antidepressant use during pregnancy does not increase children’s risk of autism or ADHD, challenging claims linking the medications to developmental disorders.
Researchers Find No Causal Link Between Antidepressants And Autism
A large international study reports that antidepressant use during pregnancy does not raise the risk of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders in children, offering reassurance to patients and physicians.
The analysis reviewed data from 37 previous studies covering nearly 650,000 pregnancies involving antidepressant exposure and nearly 25 million pregnancies without exposure. Findings were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
“Our study provides reassuring evidence that commonly used antidepressants do not increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children,” said Dr. Wing-Chung Chang of the University of Hong Kong, who led the research.
Researchers initially observed slightly higher autism and ADHD diagnoses among children whose mothers used antidepressants during pregnancy. However, those differences largely disappeared after adjusting for maternal mental health conditions, genetics, family history and other risk factors.
Scientists say autism’s causes remain unclear but likely involve complex biological and genetic influences developing before birth.
The findings contradict assertions made by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has claimed without evidence that certain antidepressants and vaccines contribute to autism. Public health experts say decades of scientific research have not supported those claims.
Family Traits, Not Medication, Explain Higher Risks
Experts not involved in the study said the research highlights how correlation can be mistaken for causation.
“This is a really important point that is easy to get wrong,” said Dr. James Walker, professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Leeds. “If you simply compare children whose mothers took antidepressants with children whose mothers did not, you may find a difference. But that does not mean the medicine caused the difference.”
Higher autism and ADHD risks were observed among children whose fathers reported Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy, as well as among mothers who took the medications before—but not during—pregnancy.
Because a father’s medication cannot affect a fetus directly, Walker said the pattern strongly suggests shared genetic or family factors rather than drug exposure.
Researchers also found that higher antidepressant doses did not increase risk, further weakening arguments that medication itself drives developmental disorders.
Some increased risks were linked to older tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Researchers noted those drugs are typically prescribed for more severe or treatment-resistant depression, suggesting underlying mental health conditions may explain the association.
Experts Warn Against Stopping Treatment During Pregnancy
Researchers emphasized that untreated maternal depression carries significant health risks for both mothers and children.
For patients with mild depression, non-drug therapies such as psychotherapy may be considered. But experts caution against discontinuing antidepressants solely because of unproven safety concerns.
“Abrupt discontinuation might worsen maternal depression, which in itself is associated with adverse outcomes for both mothers and children,” the study authors said.
Dr. Anita Banerjee, an obstetrician at King’s College London who was not involved in the research, said mental health disorders remain the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United Kingdom during the year after childbirth.
The study’s authors said their findings support individualized medical decisions guided by physicians, weighing both mental health needs and pregnancy safety.
The researchers concluded that current evidence does not justify withholding Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy, as fears of an autism risk are not supported by the data.
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