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Introduction: there is evidence of intensive stress in caregivers of children with autism, especially mothers. One of its consequences may be the development of a depressive disorder. Maternal depression can adversely affect both the mother and the child. Objective: to describe the aspects involved in maternal depression in the context of autism and the impact of this diagnosis in child development. Method: it was consulted the databases PsycINFO and SciELO. As search strategies in PsycINFO the descriptors "autism OR infantile autism and mother depression" were used; in SciELO the terms were "autism and mother depression", in all fields. Results: The articles were classified according to the type: review, case study or experimental study (N = 14). It was considered both qualitative and quantitative studies, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The articles listed from 1 to 3 were used to base the conception of autism and maternal depression. Conclusion: the diagnosis of autism may adversely affect the maternal mental health of these children, and may negatively impact the mother-child interaction and child development. Interventions to improve the mental health of parents and development of children with autism have shown positive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]