title: Perinatal complications as predictors of infantile autism.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between reported perinatal complications and autism. The biological mothers of 183 autistic children and 209 normals completed the Maternal Perinatal Scale (MPS), a maternal self-report that surveys complications of pregnancies and medical conditions of the mother. Previous research in this area has been limited, with no definitive conclusions. A discriminant analysis was performed to consider perinatal complications as predictors between the autistic and normal subjects. Using the MPS, 65% of the autistic cases were correctly grouped. The results further indicated significant differences on 3 of the 10 factors of the MPS, in particular, Gestational Age, Maternal Morphology, and Intrauterine Stress. When considered in an item by item fashion, 5 items were found to significantly predict group membership (prescriptions taken during pregnancy, length of labor, viral infection, abnormal presentation at delivery, and low birth weight). Finally, 3 maternal medical conditions were found to be highly significant and contribute to the separation between groups, including urinary infection, high temperatures, and depression.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Ball State University, 1407 Marsh Street, Muncie, IN 47306, USA.
authors.forename: Diana Sue
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wilkerson
authors.forename: Alessandra G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Raymond S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Titus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010500:Perinatology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors