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Panadol claims creating stigma around autism, says psychology body

23 September 2025  

The peak body for all psychologists says claims by the US President that the use of Tylenol (Panadol in Australia) during pregnancy increases the risk of autism in children are unfounded and causing unnecessary distress and confusion within the community and in 
expectant parents.  

Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi) Chief Psychologist, Amanda Curran, said the autistic community was already experiencing high levels of distress following recent changes to the NDIS.  

“Now to add to this distress, these unsubstantiated claims seem to be placing the blame on parents for taking an everyday medication that has proven to be safe,” she said.  

Ms Curran said AAPi stands firmly with the neurodivergent community.  

“Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference, not a disease or deficit to be feared or prevented,” she said.  

She also said: 

  • Australian psychologists are bound by ethical and professional standards to practice in evidence-based ways, guided by current research and clinical consensus. 
  • AAPi promotes a neurodiversity-affirming approach, which respects and values the lived experiences of autistic individuals and their families. 
  • Public narratives that imply autism is a preventable or undesirable outcome can contribute to stigma, misinformation, and psychological harm. 

“We encourage clients to take the advice of their medical practitioners when making decisions about medication. They are best placed to provide evidence-based advice on their personal situation.  Psychologists do not have medical training and cannot provide 
recommendations around medication.”  

FURTHER COMMENTS FROM ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOSEPHINE BARBARO:  

Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro, President of the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR) and AAPi Director, said:  

“There have been countless studies over decades, including literally hundreds of thousands of children and families, definitively showing no link between vaccines and autism.  

“The information regarding paracetamol and autism was based on correlation, not causation, meaning that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not cause autism, but that there may be an association with the need to take paracetamol during 
pregnancy (for countless reasons, including the very real, valid, and necessary reason of reducing fever during pregnancy), and having an autistic child.  

“Most importantly, however, there have been other studies which have found no correlation between taking paracetamol in pregnancy and autism, which was not mentioned at all.” 

For reference: today’s TGA statement regarding paracetamol use in pregnancy.  

ENDS 

Download the PDF. 

 

About AAPi 

AAPi is a not-for-profit peak body for psychologists that aims to preserve the rich diversity of psychological practice in Australia. Formed in 2010 by a group of passionate grassroots psychologists, AAPi’s primary goal is to address inequality in the profession and represent all psychologists and their clients equally to government and funding bodies. Its primary mission is to lobby for equitable access for the Australian public to professional psychological services such as Medicare Better Access Scheme and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.