Abstract
The precise etiology of autism remains unclear. Obstetric adversity has been described as one factor that may increase the risk for the disorder. We examined the contemporaneous birth records of 49 children satisfying DSM-III-R criteria for autistic disorder, at four Dublin maternity hospitals, using the previous same-sex live birth in that hospital as a control. Data were evaluated blind to subject status using two obstetric complication (OC) rating scales. No significant differences in obstetric adversity were found between index and control groups. Autistic individuals did not differ from controls in terms of previously described risk factors for this disorder (maternal age, maternal parity, birth order, and low birth weight) in autism. These data do not support the view that OCs increase the risk for later autism.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Bailey, A. J. (1993). The biology of autism.Psychological Medicine, 23, 7–11.
Bryson, S. E., Smith, I. M., & Eastwood, D. (1988). Obstetrical Suboptimality in Autistic Children.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 418–422.
Deykin, E. Y., & MacMahon, B. (1980). Pregnancy, delivery and neonatal complications among autistic children.American Journal of Diseases of Childhood, 134, 860–864.
Eagles, J. M., Gibson, I., Bremner, M. H., Clunie, F., Ebmeier, K. P., & Smith, N. C. (1990). Obstetric complications in DSM-III schizophrenics and their siblings.Lancet, 3, 1139–1141.
Finnegan, J. A., & Quarrington, B. (1979). Peri- and neonatal factors and infantile autism.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 20, 119–128.
Gilberg, C. (1990). Autism and pervasive developmental disorder.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31, 99–119.
Gilberg, C., & Gilberg, I. C. (1983). Infantile autism: A total population study of reduced optimality in the pre-, peri-, and neonatal period.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 13, 153–166.
Gunther-Genta, F., Bovet, P., & Hohlfeld, P. (1994). Obstetric complications and schizophrenia a case control study.British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 165–170.
Knobloch, H., & Pasamanick, B. (1975). Some etiologic and prognostic factors in early infantile autism and psychosis.Pediatrics, 65, 182–191.
Kolvin, I., Ounsted, C., & Roth, M. (1971). Cerebral dysfunction and childhood psychoses.British Journal of Psychiatry, 118, 407–414.
Levy, S., Zoltak, B., & Saelens, T. (1988). A comparison of obstetric records of autistic and nonautistic referrals for psychoeducational evaluations.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 573–581.
Lewis, S. W., Owen, M. J., & Murray, R. M. (1989). Obstetric complications in schizophrenia. Methodology and mechanisms. In S. C. Schultz & C. A. Tamminga (Eds.),Schizophrenia: Scientific progress. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lobascher, M. E., Kingerlee, P. E., & Gubbay, S. S. (1970). Childhood autism an investigation of etiological factors in twenty-five cases.British Journal of Psychiatry, 117, 525–529.
Lockyer, L., & Rutter, M. (1969). A five to fifteen-year follow-up study of infantile psychosis: III. Psychological aspects.British Journal of Psychiatry, 115, 865–882.
Lord, C., Mulloy, C., Wendelboe, M., & Schopler, E. (1991). Pre- and perinatal factors in high-functioning females and males with autism.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 197–209.
Mason-Brothers, A., Ritvo, E. R., Pingree, C., Petersen, P. B., Jenson, W. R., McMahon, W. M., Freeman, B. J., Jorde, L. B., Spencer, M. J., Mo, A., & Ritvo, A. (1990). The UCLA-University of Utah epidemiologic survey of autism: Prenatal perinatal, and postnatal factors.Pediatrics, 86, 514–519.
McNeil, T. F., & Kaij, L. (1978). Obstetric factors in the development of schizophrenia: complications in the births of preschizophrenics and in reproduction by schizophrenic patients. In L. C. Wynne, R. L. Cromwell, & S. Matthyssee (Eds.).The nature of schizophrenia (p. 402). New York: Wiley.
Nelson, K. B. (1991). Prenatal and perinatal factors in the etiology of autism.Pediatrics, 87, 761–766.
O'Callaghan, E., Gibson, T., Colohan, H. A., Buckley, P., Walshe, D. G., Larkin, C., & Waddington, J. L. (1992). Risk of schizophrenia in adults born after obstetric complications and their association with early onset of illness: A controlled study.British Medical Journal, 305, 1256–1259.
O'Hare, A., Whelan, C. T., & Commins, P. (1991). The development of an Irish census-based social class scale.Economic and Social Review, 22, 135–156.
Parnas, J., Schulsinger, F., Teasdale, T. W., Schulsinger, H., Feldman, P. M., & Mednick, S. A. (1982). Perinatal complications and clinical outcome within the schizophrenia spectrum.British Journal Psychiatry, 140, 416–420.
Piven, J., Simon, J., Chase, G. A., Wzorek, M., Landa, R., Gayle, J., and Folstein, S. (1993). The etiology of autism: pre-, peri-, and neonatal factors.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 1256–1263.
Ritvo, E. R., Jorde, L. B., Mason-Brothers, A., Freeman, B. J., Pingree, C., Jones, M. B., McMahon, W. M., Petersen, P. B., Jenson, W. R., & Mo, A. (1989). The UCLA-University of Utah epidemiological survey of autism: Recurrence risk estimates and genetic counseling.American Journal of Psychiatry, 146, 1032–1038.
Smalley, S. L., Asarnow, R. F., & Spence, A. M. (1988). Autism and genetics. A decade of research.Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 953–961.
Torrey, E. F., Hersh, S. P., & McCabe, K. D. (1975). Early childhood psychosis and bleeding during pregnancy.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 5, 287–297.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by the Health Research Board of Ireland and the Stanley Foundation (USA). We extend our thanks to the patients and their parents, to the Clinical Directors and staff of the Eastern Health Board, Mater Hospital, and St. John of God Psychiatric Services and to the staff of the Autistic Services. We are particularly grateful to the Irish Society for Autism. We also particularly thank the Masters and Medical Record Officers of the Coombe Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital and St. James Hospital.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cryan, E., Byrne, M., O'Donovan, A. et al. Brief report: A case-control study of obstetric complications and later autistic disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 26, 453–460 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02172829
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02172829