Antidepressants may Increase Risk of Autism in Offspring If Taken During Pregnancy

A new study conducted by American researchers has found that prescribing antidepressants to pregnant mothers puts thousands of expecting mothers and their unborn babies are at risk.

The researchers said that many GPs are not aware of the dangers posed by antidepressants and warned that they could increase the risk of miscarriages, autism, high blood pressure and premature birth.

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Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

They also added that drug companies are trying to play down the risks associated with anti-depressants as they make up a substantial portion of their income.

“I am absolutely concerned – very concerned. We are witnessing a large-scale human experiment. Never before have we chemically altered human fetal development on such a large scale. Study after study shows increased rates of newborn complications in those babies who were exposed to SSRIs in-utero. The Federal Drugs Administration [in the US] and Health Canada have put out warnings specifically regarding this issue”, Tufts University’s Dr Adam Urato, who worked on the study, said.

The study was presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual conference in San Diego and will be published in the journal Human Reproduction.

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Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

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Depression occurs due to alterations in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.

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Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.