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Studies in rodents have linked prenatal serotonergic drug exposure to autism-like behaviors, but investigations in humans of the possible risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) after in utero antidepressant exposure have yielded conflicting results. Now, researchers have examined electronic data from a large healthcare system to assess risk for ASD and another neurodevelopmental disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), after prenatal antidepressant exposure. Analyses controlled for maternal psychopathology. In all, 1377 children with ASD and 2243 with ADHD were matched 1:3 with unaffected children (age range, 2–19 years).
Maternal history of major depression was associated with increased risk for ASD and ADHD in offspring.…