2 Antidepressants During Pregnancy Linked to Elevated Autism Risk

Pregnant women should carefully consider their options, researchers said.

Young children dance with their umbrellas at the launch of an art installation called the Umbrella Project, to raise awareness of ADHD and autism in children, featuring 200 brightly coloured umbrellas suspended over Church Alley in Liverpool, England, on June 22, 2017. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Two antidepressants were associated with an elevated risk of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, researchers said in a new paper.

Researchers with the University of Hong Kong and other institutions carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis, analyzing 37 studies conducted through May 14, 2025, on antidepressant use among mothers before or during pregnancy, and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, in the offspring of those parents.