Research has linked a class of antidepressants, known as SSRIs, with an increased risk of autism in children whose mothers used the medication during pregnancy. SSRIs, otherwise known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are among the most common medications used to treat depression. A recent report, “found prenatal SSRI exposure was almost three times as likely in boys with autism spectrum disorders relative to typical development, with the greatest risk when exposure is during the first trimester,” said Li-Ching Lee, an author on the report from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The study used a sample consisting of 966 pairs of mother and child. Around 500 children were given an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, another 154 children were diagnosed with a different form of developmental delay and the remaining 320 children were determined to be developing normally.

When examining the medical histories of the mothers, it was determined that exposure to SSRIs, such as Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil, Lexapro and Prozac, occurred in 5.9 percent of pregnancies resulting in children with autism spectrum disorders. For developmental delay diagnoses, this rate was a comparable 5.2 percent in contrast to the 3.4 percent exposure rate in children with normal development.

The group used to collect data was comprised primarily of male children, 800 of the 966 were boys. In studying the relationship of fetal exposure to SSRIs and subsequent developmental disorders it was determined that boys are up to three times more likely to be affected, especially if exposure occurred during the earliest stages of pregnancy.

These findings highlight a need for pregnant women to discuss their options for treating depression with their doctors. The complicated nature of depression coupled with the increased risk to the fetus in first trimester exposure to SSRIs indicate that these discussions should take place as early as possible to protect both mother and child.