The Etiology of Autism: Pre-, Peri- and Neonatal Factors

doi:10.1097/00004583-199311000-00021

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Volume 32, Issue 6, November 1993, Pages 1256-1263

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199311000-00021 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To examine pre-, peri-, and neonatal factors in autism using composite optimality scores.

Method

Pre-, peri-, and neonatal composite optimality scores were examined in 39 autistic subjects and 39 randomly matched sibling controls using a modification of the Gillberg Optimality Scale (Modified-GOS). Scores were based on best-estimate ratings of maternal interviews and medical records. Rules for best-estimate ratings were derived from a study of agreement between these two sources.

Results

Significant differences in optimality between autistic probands and their siblings were not present after adjustment for “maternal parity.‘’ Examination of specific variables revealed that only maternal parity differed significantly between autistic subjects and randomly matched sibling controls, reflecting an excess of first and fourth born among the autistic subjects.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that previous reports of an association between optimality and autism are aresult of failure to adjust for birth order. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1993, 32,6:1256–1263.

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: This research was supported by NIMH Grant RO1 MH39936-04 (Dr. Folstein) and The John Merck Fund (Dr. Piven). The authors acknowledge the help of Pat Palmer, Ph.D., Stephan Arndt, Ph.D., and Janiece Thein.

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Case StudyThe Etiology of Autism: Pre-, Peri- and Neonatal Factors

Abstract

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusion

J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.

J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry

Early Hum. Dev.

Handedness and birth order

Nature

Genetic and perinatal determinants of structural brain deficits in schizophrenia

Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

Autism in children with congenital rubella

J. Autism Childhood Schizophrenia

Acquired reversible autistic syndrome in acute encephalopathic illness in children

Arch. Neurol.

Viral exposure and autism

Am. J. Epidemiol.

Pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal complications among autistic children

Am. J. Dis. Child.

Pre-, peri- and neonatal factors and infantile autism

J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry

Etiology of autism: genetic influences

Pediatrics

Infantile autism: a total population study of reduced optimality in the pre-, peri-, and neonatal period

J. Autism Dev. Disord.

Childbirth research data: medical records or women's reports?

Am. J. Epidemiol.

Stoppage rules and genetic studies of autism

J. Autism Dev. Disord.

Some etiologic and prognostic factors in early infantile autism and psychosis

Pediatrics

Autism diagnostic interview: a standardized investigator-based instrument

J. Autism Dev. Disord.

Case Study
The Etiology of Autism: Pre-, Peri- and Neonatal Factors