Are SSRI Anti-Depressants to Blame for a Child’s Autism?

As we see more and more children placed on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) each year, it becomes clearer that we, as a culture, need to explore the reasons behind why so many children are now being diagnosed. The latest data we have is from 2010, and it tells us that 1 in 68 children across the country will be diagnosed with ASD each year.

A controversial study published in JAMA Pediatric in December, 2015, sought to find out whether or not children whose mothers took specific kinds of anti-depressants during their gestation periods were at a greater risk of developing ASD. So far, the answer seems to be a definitive yes.

What the research says

The doctors in charge of the study readily and opening admit that “the association between the use of antidepressants during gestation and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children is still controversial. The etiology of ASD remains unclear, although studies have implicated genetic predispositions, environmental risk factors, and maternal depression.”

However, what they found is extraordinary: the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) when taken during the second or third trimester, increases the risk of a child being born with autism by 87%. The study makes clear that further research will be needed to show that their work is not an anomaly (multiple studies over the past few years have gone back-and-forth about whether or not a link is really there), but the overall prognosis is clear: mothers using an SSRI to control depression are more likely to have children who are born with autism.

The detractors

The study printed in JAMA has raised a lot of eyebrows in scientific circles. Because the study only looked at women taking SSRIs, and not at any external factors, the medical community at large is not yet convinced there is a link. Alan Brown, a professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at Columbia University, and Bryan King, program director of the autism center at Seattle Children’s Hospital and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, explained in an interview with National Public Radio “that there’s strong evidence that mothers with depression are more likely than other women to have a child with autism, whether or not they take antidepressants during pregnancy.” King described the 87% increase as “very concerning,” especially because the amount of children in the study – 31 – is too small to be definitive.

Taking the next steps

More research has to be done in order to determine whether or not SSRIs are linked to autism, but one thing is clear: if mothers were not warned about the potential dangers of the drugs on their babies, we could see millions of families filing failure to warn or defective drug lawsuits in the coming years. Every person has the right to know all of the potential dangers and side effects of the medications they take, so they can make the most informed decisions possible about their health and the health of their children.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we fight for justice on behalf of families throughout South Carolina. If you or your family member was taking an SSRI during pregnancy, and your child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, please contact us or call 803-327-7800 to learn more about your options.