Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo Andrey_Popov via Shutterstock

Children exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy only at small risk of autism

Experts say this isn’t a cause for alarm.

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO antidepressants during pregnancy are at a slightly higher risk of having autism than children of mothers with psychiatric disorders who were not treated with antidepressants, according to a new study.

The researchers have stressed that the risk of autism was small and therefore the results should not be considered alarming.

In Europe, 3-8% of pregnant women are prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy.

Several studies have previously reported associations between antidepressant use during pregnancy and autism in their children. However, it is not clear whether this is due to the illness, antidepressant drugs, or other unaccounted for factors.

According to the researchers, such factors – known as confounding – can introduce bias and affect the results of a study, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about cause and effect.

To minimise the risk of confounding, and better understand the reasons behind the association, a research team at the University of Bristol applied a range of methods to a large Swedish population.

They looked at data from 254,610 people aged 4-17, including 5,378 with autism, living in Stockholm between 2001 and 2011.

All of those studied were born to mothers who didn’t take antidepressants and who didn’t suffer from any psychiatric disorders, mothers who took antidepressants during pregnancy, or mothers with psychiatric disorders who did not take antidepressants at all during pregnancy.

Of the 3,342 children exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy, 4.1% (136) were diagnosed with autism.

This was compared to 2.9% (353) of 12,325 children not exposed to antidepressants whose mothers suffered from a psychiatric disorder.

The authors of the report said:

It is important to continue investigation of possible underlying biological mechanisms that could help us better understand the aetiology of autism.

There was no evidence of any increased risk of autism in children whose fathers were prescribed antidepressants.

The outcome of the results 

The authors of the study stressed that it was important to note that over 95% of women analysed who took antidepressants during pregnancy did not have a child with autism.

Even if the association between antidepressant use and autism is ‘causal’, just 2% of cases would be prevented if no women with psychiatric disorders used antidepressants during pregnancy, according to the researchers.

Diana Schendel of Aarhus University in Denmark says the findings of this study “should be viewed through the kaleidoscope of possible causes of autism”.

She said that the “reassuring study message” that more than 95% of women in the study who took antidepressants did not have a child with autism was significant.

Although such a small risk within the population might seem too high from an individual’s perspective, Schendel said:

It must be carefully weighed against the substantial health consequences associated with untreated depression.

Read: ‘These people matter’: The government’s new ‘compassionate’ plan to tackle drug addiction

More: A London medical conference is moving to Sligo because of Brexit – and Web Summit

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
23 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Corcoran
    Favourite Brian Corcoran
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:26 PM

    Nobody loves taking the bus. The government has made having a car so damn expensive some people have no other option

    274
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Play Against Par
    Favourite Play Against Par
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:38 PM

    If “bus” is code for “piss” then I wholeheartedly agree!

    110
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zozzy Zozimus
    Favourite Zozzy Zozimus
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 8:25 PM

    I love my Dublin Bus.

    23
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Manuel Moreira
    Favourite Manuel Moreira
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 11:57 PM

    @Brian you see amazing things when you take the bus, such as:
    -junkies having sex in the back;
    -someone talking too loud on the phone;
    -oh shit I think I just stepped on poop;
    -how did a begger get in to ask me for money? o.o

    Actually nevermind, point taken o.o

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan Wadey
    Favourite Dylan Wadey
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:41 PM

    If you’re using public transport never give up your seat to an old lady…
    That’s how I lost my job as a bus driver.

    235
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Hammond
    Favourite David Hammond
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:43 PM

    Now that passenger numbers have increased will fares be coming down? After all, one of the main reasons for all the increases over the last number of years was falling passenger numbers.

    228
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:10 PM

    X1,000

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen
    Favourite Stephen
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:31 PM

    I love the bus, you do see all sorts. I once seen two junkies having sex at the back of bus coming home one night. To quote them he said “get your tits out?” She replied “Ah noo not yet, wait” charming experience all together

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arthur Callaghan
    Favourite Arthur Callaghan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:29 PM

    I think we are the only country that say thanks to the bus driver when getting off

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Davidson
    Favourite Barry Davidson
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:46 PM

    We’re the only country that’s passes the bus driver getting off the bloody thing holding up all the boarding passengers.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 8:09 PM

    Because you’d need two staff per bus to do it the other way. Saying thanks to the bus driver is just polite. You say thanks to a taxi driver so why not a bus driver?

    29
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ted hagan
    Favourite ted hagan
    Report
    Jun 5th 2015, 6:26 AM

    We like to think we are. They do it in most countries. It’s just of those ‘aren’t we Irish cute’ things.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Emigrant
    Favourite The Emigrant
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:41 PM

    Do you know what Irish people hate? A lack of proper fücking transport!

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute fiachra29
    Favourite fiachra29
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:52 PM

    I often use the train, Bus Éireann and the luas and I think all those services run quite well although they could do with coming down in price. Dublin Bus on the other hand is the most chaotic, confusing and user unfriendly service out there, it’s as if they don’t want people to use the bus.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Favourite Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:39 PM

    Bus Eireann intercity is fine if you want to get from the very start of the route to the very end of it. The timetable is only a vague suggestion for stops in between.

    23
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Plantation Watch
    Favourite Plantation Watch
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 8:42 PM

    And make sure you use relieve yourself before hand as if theres a jax its sure to be locked.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Moran
    Favourite Colin Moran
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:03 PM

    Dublin Bus would be brilliant if it wasn’t for the other passengers.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:34 PM

    I urinate several times a day, too. Doesn’t mean I love it.

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Reid
    Favourite Paul Reid
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:29 PM

    It’s the bus drivers because we are all so sexy!!!

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lee Power
    Favourite Lee Power
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:27 PM

    I love the bus. I bleedin hate the withworth road!

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seth Mcguinness
    Favourite Seth Mcguinness
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:14 PM

    They’re a nightmare, they bring you on safari. I honestly think the number 16 passes through Donegal twice on its route.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Collins
    Favourite John Collins
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:50 PM

    I hate taking the bus with a burning passion.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caroline Mantl
    Favourite Caroline Mantl
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:04 PM

    Must make it difficult to sit down alright.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Redline
    Favourite Ben Redline
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:08 PM

    Excellent Caroline B-)

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bandido
    Favourite bandido
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:51 PM

    And yet before September comes they will be given an increase in ticket prices citing “falling passenger number”.
    This will be the third consecutive year.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute North Korean General
    Favourite North Korean General
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:17 PM

    Blame FG/Lab… Maybe they will give Dennis O’Brian favourable loan terms so he can but it. He seems to be buying everything else!!!!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Biodiversity Watch On Biology-ie
    Favourite Biodiversity Watch On Biology-ie
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:22 PM

    How come there is no link to the previous story about two people being assaulted on the bus?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Integra-Ted
    Favourite Integra-Ted
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 7:31 PM

    Irish people love getting the bus without being beaten mercilessly for no good reason by some waster….

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drew
    Favourite Drew
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 6:44 PM

    Nice phrasing…. They experienced a surplus owing to allocation of additional funding and subsidies.

    So they run an unprofitable constant tax payer subsidised deficit. The deficit was merely less than they expected it to be this year?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul burnett
    Favourite paul burnett
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 9:22 PM

    Said no man ever

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ted hagan
    Favourite ted hagan
    Report
    Jun 5th 2015, 6:23 AM

    Just reading this as I wait for the number 44 to arrive. Five minutes to go. I’m all excited now. I’ll let you all know how I got on…. oh, hurry up!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jun 5th 2015, 12:41 AM

    Do you know what Irish people love?
    Gossiping, getting things rear ways and Chinese rumours???
    Whoops…

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gillian Kennedy
    Favourite Gillian Kennedy
    Report
    Jun 4th 2015, 10:43 PM

    So you don’t think there are more journeys because more people are in work?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jun 5th 2015, 12:42 AM

    What work, there are more journeys because the pensioners love riding the free travel lol.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mrs Shalakalananaka
    Favourite Mrs Shalakalananaka
    Report
    Jun 5th 2015, 9:03 AM

    “Public transport is for losers” – Homer.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds