The use of antidepressants by women shortly before, but also during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of giving birth to children with autism spectrum disorder, according to a new Franco-Italian scientific study.
However, researchers led by Dr. Florence Gresier of the Department of Psychiatry at Biscay University Hospital and the University of Paris-Saclay, who published the journal JAMA Pediatrics, said that pregnant women should not , as the study findings have a degree of uncertainty and, in addition, there may be other consequences if depression is not treated during pregnancy.
"Every case of a pregnant woman should be evaluated individually," Gracie was quoted as saying by Reuters. Nearly 15% of pregnant women, according to researchers, develop depression and those who do not receive any medication are at greater risk for complications.
The use of antidepressants in pregnancy has increased internationally in recent years. The most widely used drugs are the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
The new study (meta-analysis), which evaluated the findings of six studies involving a total of almost 118.000 people, concluded that children were 81% more likely to be diagnosed with autism if they were exposed to antidepressants while in the womb. pregnancy.
But there were two other studies that also evaluated more than 772.000 children, which did not show a link between antidepressants during pregnancy and autism. This raises doubts about what exactly is happening in the end.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ / SigmaLive