[Scoutmaster]

I'm not suggesting that FReepers with autistic children, or FReepers with family members who have autistic children, used anti-depressants. The article simply caught my eye.

[grania]

I’m dumbfounded that anti-depressents would be prescribed or taken during pregnancy.

[Izzy Dunne]

It seems that ASD has many causes. This might be one.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I thought thalidomide taught us that drugs of any kind during pregnancy are a bad idea?

[knarf]

Leads me to wonder ...

If a woman has missed a couple of periods and she's feeling 'down' ... doesn't she think she might be pregnant and not 'depressed' ?

If she approaches her Dr., doesn't he ask if she's pregnant ?

I'm not saying this is or is not 'a' cause for autism, but merely wondering how it could happen.

[no-to-illegals]

Mom told me what the doctor made her take while pregnant with me. I understand after research why am the way I am. All has been made clear. Thank You. I’m suing Mom.

[Seruzawa]

Well, if women are already on antidepressants and they get pregnant, they are stuck with it. Ever seen the withdrawals from trying to come of those things?

[LearsFool]

A new Johns Hopkins study discovers an association between prenatal exposure to antidepressant medications, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and developmental delays (DD) in boys.

So in other words, it's like feeding your son soy, or sending him to public school?

[allendale]

Try first trimester marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol and tobacco use being linked to autism. Decadence has its consequences.

[txrefugee]

According to studies, the water table has been polluted with birth control drugs. Why can’t the same be said for these anti-depressants? One might not even take the drugs to be exposed to them.

[Raycpa]

Does this prove women who suffer from depression are linked to autism or women being treated for depression? Also, is this only SSRI drugs and not other antidepressants..who funded? New drug company?

[Bogey78O]

We overmedicate people with anti-depressants.

Some things are depressing. Lost your job? Relationship fell apart? Loved one died? Folks need to work through their emotions rather than suppressing them.

[Black Agnes]

This would clearly NOT be a genetic cause.

If this environmental factor is a cause, there are likely other environmental factors that are also causes.

[Mach9]

Who knows how long the effects of certain drugs last in the body? It is known that some side-effects outlive the desired purpose of the drug.