And at this point, it remains unclear how depression, antidepressants, genetics or other environmental factors may interact to result potentially in a diagnosis of autism. Dr. Bérard, the study author, was quick to point this out as well: “The causes of autism are still unknown,” she said. “We’re starting to understand it but we’re far from really understanding the whole mechanism. “We studied one of multiple environmental causes and measured an association. It’s not a cause.”