Antidepressants Exposure Linked to Brain, Behavioral Abnormalities in Developing Rats

Produced by Jim Albritton | A study by researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco shows that rats given a popularly prescribed antidepressant during development exhibit brain abnormalities and behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorders. The findings suggest that taking a certain class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs during pregnancy might be one factor contributing to a dramatic rise in these developmental disorders in children.