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Maternal SSRI discontinuation, use, psychiatric disorder and the risk of autism in children: a meta‐analysis of cohort studies
Author(s) -
Kaplan Yusuf Cem,
KeskinArslan Elif,
Acar Selin,
Sozmen Kaan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/bcp.13382
Subject(s) - confounding , pregnancy , discontinuation , autism spectrum disorder , medicine , cohort , cohort study , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , psychiatry , autism , meta analysis , pediatrics , obstetrics , antidepressant , anxiety , biology , genetics
We undertook an exclusive meta‐analysis of cohort studies investigating the possible link between prenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children to further investigate our previous suggestion of confounding by indication. The point estimates regarding the following cohorts were extracted and pooled: (1) pregnant women who discontinued SSRI until 3 months before pregnancy; (2) pregnant women who were exposed to SSRI during pregnancy; and (3) pregnant women with maternal psychiatric disorder but no exposure to SSRI during pregnancy. Although the pooled point estimate of the first cohort showed a trend for increase, it did not reach significance. The pooled point estimates of the latter cohorts showed a significant association with ASD which strengthens our previous suggestion of confounding by indication. Future studies should be adequately designed to differentiate whether the previously suggested association is a result of maternal psychiatric disorder or SSRI exposure or both.