In this study, a total of 966 mother-child pairs were evaluated. 492 of the children had autism spectrum disorders (ASD), 154 had developmental delays (DD), and 320 had typical development (TD). The pairs were obtained from the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) Study, a population-based casecontrol study. Standardized measures confirmed developmental status. Interviews with biological mothers ascertained prenatal SSRI use, maternal mental health history, and sociodemographic information. The results showed that the prevalence of prenatal SSRI exposure was lowest in the TD children (3.4%) but did not differ significantly from ASD (5.9%) or DD (5.2%) children. Among boys, prenatal SSRI exposure was nearly 3 times as likely in children with ASD relative to TD (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.07-7.93). The strongest association occurred with first-trimester exposure (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.17-8.84). Exposure was also elevated among boys with DD (OR 3.39, 95% CI 0.98-11.75) and was strongest in the third trimester (OR 4.98, 95% CI 1.20-20.62). Findings were similar among mothers with anxiety or mood disorder histories. The authors conclude that in boys, prenatal exposure to SSRIs may increase susceptibility to ASD or DD. Pediatrics. 2014. PMID: 24733881.
