Parental mental health—not meds—drive autism links in pregnancy, study finds

A Lancet review of 37 studies with over 25 million pregnancies finds that the association between prenatal antidepressant use and autism/ADHD largely disappears after accounting for maternal depression and family history. The data show children of mothers with depression are more likely to be diagnosed with autism/ADHD, and paternal antidepressant use during gestation also correlates with these conditions, suggesting a genetic rather than pharmacological link. The authors note that current guidelines supporting continuation of antidepressants during pregnancy, when clinically indicated, are reinforced, and emphasize weighing the risks of untreated maternal depression against medication exposure.