title: Obstetric and parental psychiatric variables as potential predictors of autism severity.
abstract: Associations between obstetric and parental psychiatric variables and subjects' Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) domain scores were examined using linear mixed effects models. Data for the 228 families studied were provided by the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange. Hypertension (P = 0.002), preeclampsia (P = 0.021) and generalized edema (P = 0.011) were associated with higher ADI-R communication scores. Hypertension (P = 0.011), albuminuria (P = 0.039) and generalized edema (P = 0.009) were associated with higher ADI-R repetitive behaviors scores. Parent depression was associated with higher ADI-R repetitive behaviors scores (P = 0.005), and parent anxiety with lower ADOS social/communication composite scores (P = 0.025). The associations between hypertension-related obstetric conditions and autistic severity warrant further investigation and raise intriguing questions regarding potential causal and modifying factors in autism.
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. awallace@healthcore.com
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubrow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors