Prenatal pregnancy complications and psychiatric symptoms: Children with ASD versus clinic controls.

Abstract: The current study examined the association between prenatal pregnancy complications (PPC) and childhood psychiatric symptoms in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD children who were referred to a psychiatric clinic (Controls). Parents completed a DSM-IV-referenced rating scale and developmental history questionnaire. Participants were classified as having ≥1 PPC (+PPC) versus none (−PPC). Children with ASD were significantly more likely to have PPC than Controls. Intra-group comparisons demonstrated that children in the ASD+PPC group had more severe anxiety than ASD/−PPC group. The Control+PPC group obtained higher symptom ratings of inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional behavior than Control/−PPC. Children in the ASD+PPC group were rated as having more severe anxiety and depression symptoms than Control+PPC. Dissimilar associations in ASD and non-ASD samples were found, suggesting divergent pathogenic processes in different clinical phenotypes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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