Maternal stress and perinatal features in autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the shared and non-shared perinatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a clinical sample. Additionally, we compared these groups regarding pre/postpartum maternal stress and the duration of breastfeeding.


METHODS
Children aged 3-18 years old with ASD (n = 100) were compared with age- and gender-matched children with ADHD (n = 100) and with age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 80).


RESULTS
Prematurity of the neonate and maternal stress/depressive mood in pregnancy were common risk factors shared by ASD and ADHD. Postpartum maternal depressive mood may be more specific to ASD, while shorter duration of breastfeeding may be related to ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
ASD and ADHD may have some perinatal features in common. Identification of perinatal factors for ASD and ADHD carries clinical implications in terms of primary prevention.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Gökçe Nur
GN
Say
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Koray
K
Karabekiroğlu
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Zehra
Z
Babadağı
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Murat
M
Yüce
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; autism; breastfeeding; maternal stress; postpartum depression