Narrowly versus broadly defined autism spectrum disorders: differences in pre- and perinatal risk factors.
This study examined the differential contribution of pre- and perinatal risks in narrowly versus broadly defined autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and across core symptom domains, IQ and co-morbid problems. Children with a DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder (AD) (n = 121) or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) (n = 75) were compared to a typical control sample (n = 311). Diagnoses were based on extensive assessments between 12 and 49 months of age (M = 33.3, SD = 6.4) and re-evaluated at 43-98 months (M = 68.1, SD = 10.7) in 70% of the cases. Compared with controls, cases with ASD were more likely to be firstborn and show a suboptimal condition after birth. Case mothers reported more infections and more stress during pregnancy. Although the ASD subgroups showed mostly overlapping risks, cases with PDD-NOS differed from those with AD by higher exposure to smoking during pregnancy (SDP) and by a negative association of smoking with IQ, regardless of confounders. SDP appears to contribute more to broadly defined (PDD-NOS) than to narrowly defined ASD (AD). Findings suggest differences in etiological contributors between ASD phenotypes.
Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Reinier Postlaan 12, 6525 GC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.c.visser@psy.umcn.nl
Janne C
JC
Visser
Nanda
N
Rommelse
Lianne
L
Vink
Margo
M
Schrieken
Iris J
IJ
Oosterling
Rutger J
RJ
van der Gaag
Jan K
JK
Buitelaar
D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D015995:Prevalence; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution