Antidepressant use during pregnancy linked to increased risk of autism

Monday, July 18, 2011 by: T.M. Hartle (NaturalNews) Several studies have implicated antidepressant use during pregnancy with short term complications in newborns, autism, and other birth defects. A study published in the Archives of General Psychology in July 2011 uncovered a connection between antidepressant use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism. Increases in autism have coincided with increased use of antidepressants. According to a report in US News, the use of antidepressants in the U.S. has doubled between 1996 and 2005. This dramatic rise in antidepressant use raises questions about the safety of these drugs during pregnancy. The FDA classifies SSRI (antidepressants) as class C drugs, which means they have not been proven safe or unsafe for use in pregnancy. New research is exposing these drugs as potentially unsafe during pregnancy despite the FDA classification. The recent study in the Archives of General Psychology raises questions about the safety of these drugs in pregnancy and about the fact that a discussion about alternative treatments for pregnant women should be initiated. This study evaluated nearly 1800 children including 298 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Researchers found that the children whose mothers took SSRI antidepressants one year prior to birth had double the incidence of autism. Researchers concluded that prenatal antidepressant exposure particularly in the first trimester causes a modest increase in autism risk. Due to safety concerns some medical professionals support alternative treatments for pregnant women that do not pose risks to the unborn child. Dr. Mason Turner, Assistant Director of Regional Mental Health for Kaiser, stated that alternatives to medication should be discussed with pregnant women. He suggested the use of stress reduction techniques, support groups, psychotherapy, reducing work hours, and discussing familial support. Many women express concerns over taking medication during pregnancy and physicians must offer women alternatives to medication particularly when that medication has not been proven safe for use in pregnancy. According to The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), several short-term complications have been seen in newborns due to SSRI exposure inutero. The ACOG issued a press release on antidepressant use in pregnancy detailing some concerning complications seen in newborns. "Exposure to SSRIs late in pregnancy has been associated with short-term complications in newborns including jitteriness, mild respiratory distress, excessively rapid respiration, weak cry, poor muscle tone, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit." The ACOG also mentions an unpublished study that found exposure to a common antidepressant during the first trimester associated with an increased risk of congenital heart malformations. In light of

all the risks associated with antidepressant use in pregnancy women should seek out alternative forms of treatment where appropriate. Dr. James Gordon, a Psychiatrist and founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, has found success treating depression for over 35 years using diet, exercise and meditation. Dr Gordon has published a study on the efficacy of his program. The study involved 139 children from Kosovo suffering from post-traumatic stress. After completing 10 weeks of the program, the children suffering from PTSD went from 88 percent to 38 percent. Studies highlighting the efficacy of drug-free treatments offer pregnant women safer alternatives in treating depression. Pregnant women should be informed about the treatment options available for depression and should discuss them with their health practitioner. source: http://www.naturalnews.com/033023_antidepressants_autism.html#ixzz21Y6yMzNM

REQUIREMENTS in NICU
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Submitted to: Catherine Cantalejo, RN MAN

CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR

SUMMARY Studies have implicated antidepressant use during pregnancy with short term complications in newborns, autism, and other birth defects. A study published in the Archives of General Psychology in July 2011 uncovered a connection between antidepressant use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism. According to a report in US News, the use of antidepressants in the U.S. has doubled between 1996 and 2005. This dramatic rise in antidepressant use raises questions about the safety of these drugs during pregnancy. The FDA classifies SSRI as class C drugs, which means they have not been proven safe or unsafe for use in pregnancy. New research is exposing these drugs as potentially unsafe during pregnancy despite the FDA classification. Researchers found that the children whose mothers took SSRI antidepressants one year prior to birth had double the incidence of autism. Researchers concluded that prenatal antidepressant exposure particularly in the first trimester causes a modest increase in autism risk. Due to safety concerns some medical professionals support alternative treatments for pregnant women that do not pose risks to the unborn child. Alternatives to medication should be discussed with pregnant women, he suggested the use of stress reduction techniques, support groups, psychotherapy, reducing work hours, and discussing familial support. According to The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), several short-term complications have been seen in newborns due to SSRI exposure inutero. "Exposure to SSRIs late in pregnancy has been associated with short-term complications in newborns including jitteriness, mild respiratory distress, excessively rapid respiration, weak cry, poor muscle tone, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit." The ACOG also mentions an unpublished study that found exposure to a common antidepressant during the first trimester associated with an increased risk of congenital heart malformations. Dr. James Gordon, has found success treating depression for over 35 years using diet, exercise and meditation. REACTION As a health care provider it is a must that we should teach our clients ways on how they could protect their health and enhance or maintain their well being. When caring a pregnant woman, you have to assure that they are aware of the things that they should avoid in line with their condition. In cases where in a pregnant woman is suffering from depression and they are used to take in antidepressants, you have to let them know the effects of it to the growing fetus inside the womb. Antidepressant drugs linked to increase risk of autism and it is prohibited in pregnant women but there are other ways that they can do in order for them to combat depression like stressreduction techniques, support groups and familial support, in this, they can reduce financial expenditures and it is proven safe both to the mother and growing fetus. They can also help themselves through healthy lifestyle, proper diet and diet and exercise so that they can be healthy physically and mentally.