In Other Journals

Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a study of 298 children with ASD and 1507 control children. The population-based, case-controlled study is the first to systematically address the association between prenatal SSRIs and ASD risk. The researchers found that children whose mothers took SSRI antidepressants in the year before delivery were twice as likely to develop ASD. SSRI use in the first trimester was associated with a threefold increased risk.