Houssari, SarahNtezirembo, AnnickSimba, Suzanne2017-12-042017-12-042017-12-01http://hdl.handle.net/10393/36984https://doi.org/10.20381/ruor-21256Background: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant and are continuously used during pregnancy. Some studies reported an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delays such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children who have been exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy. Multiple findings of elevated platelet serotonin levels in roughly one third of children with ASD have lead many to  believe that impaired serotonin levels may be associated to the disorder. Since serotonin is crucial for development in the fetal brain, there exists many concerns regarding prenatal exposure to medications such as SSRIs. Objective: This study aims to examine the association between maternal use of SSRIs during pregnancy and the development of ASD in the offspring. Methods: A structured literature review was conducted through PubMed and Medline databases. Relevant articles were retrieved using the keywords “antidepressants OR SSRIs OR selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors”, “autism spectrum disorder OR ASD”, and “pregnancy”. Selected articles were peer-reviewed and published in English within the last 17 years. Results: The original search using these keywords identified 577 relevant reports which were screened against the exclusion criteria and reviewed to obtain 9 relevant articles. Conclusion: The evidence supports the possibility of an increase of the risk of ASD in children with mothers exposed to SSRIs, however, the observed results may be subject to confounding by indication and the severity of the mental illness. Further studies are needed to determine causality.enPoster