Maternal and paternal antidepressant use before and during pregnancy…
Published May 16, 2026
A 2026 review of observational studies finds uncertain, confounded associations between parental antidepressant use and autism diagnoses.
<p><em>This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 37 observational studies of maternal or paternal antidepressant use before or during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental diagnoses in children, including autism. The authors assessed confounding by the conditions for which medication was prescribed.</em></p><p><em>After thorough adjustment for confounding, the review found no significant increase in risk for individual antidepressants, except potential safety signals for amitriptyline and nortriptyline that require further study. This does not show that antidepressants cause autism, and observational research cannot establish causation.</em></p><p><em>Do not start, stop, or change a prescribed medication based on this resource. If you have questions about antidepressants before, during, or after pregnancy, discuss your individual circumstances with the prescribing clinician or another qualified health professional.</em></p><p><em>Source: Chan JKN, Zhong AHF, Lam JYH, et al. “Maternal and paternal antidepressant use before and during pregnancy and offspring risk of neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” The Lancet Psychiatry. 2026;13(6):472–484. </em><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(26)00089-1"><em>https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(26)00089-1</em></a><em> (PMID: 42134364; PROSPERO CRD420251052595).</em></p>