A large international review covering tens of millions of pregnancies found no causal connection between antidepressant use before or during pregnancy and the development of autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, according to Healthline.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong and several global institutions led the review, which screened nearly 2,000 studies before selecting 37 high-quality studies for final analysis. Together, those studies covered more than 648,000 pregnancies involving antidepressant exposure and nearly 25 million pregnancies without exposure.
The team examined a range of neurodevelopmental outcomes, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, motor disorders, and speech or language delays. They adjusted their analysis for factors that could skew results, such as maternal mental illness, family genetics, and differences in how antidepressant exposure was measured across studies. Researchers also looked at different types of antidepressants, timing of use during pregnancy, dosage levels, and even paternal antidepressant use, in an effort to account for other underlying variables.
When the data was combined and adjusted, any small observed increase in neurodevelopmental risk appeared to be linked to genetic or environmental factors rather than to antidepressant exposure itself. The study plan was registered in advance through PROSPERO, an international database for systematic reviews, in order to improve transparency and research quality.
The findings carry practical weight. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, around 10% of pregnant people experience depression. Untreated mental illness during pregnancy carries serious risks for both the pregnant person and their baby, which is why antidepressants are commonly prescribed during and after pregnancy.
The review comes at a time when antidepressants have faced increased public scrutiny. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has discouraged the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, despite their established safety and efficacy profiles.
