HALOPERIDOL-RELATED DYSKINESIAS AND PRENATAL AND PERINATAL COMPLICATIONS IN AUTISTIC-CHILDREN

It has been hypothesized that an association exists between pre- and p erinatal complications, central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, and the development of tardive (TD) and withdrawal dyskinesias (WD), We as sessed the relationship between pre- and perinatal complications and T D/WD in a sample of 118 children with autism who participated in an on going long-term prospective study of the efficacy and safety of halope ridol. The mean total Rochester Research Obstetrical Scale (ROS) score was significantly higher for children who developed TD/WD compared to those who did not (p=.007) as was the mean score of the ROS Delivery Scale (p=.002), Anesthesia during delivery was more frequent in childr en who developed TD/WD (25 of 40, 62.5%) than in those who did not (30 of 78, 38.5%) (p=.019), The ROS Not Vertex Presentation item and TD/W D were associated only In females (p=.019), Six of 7 males with short labor developed TD/WD (p=.007), ROS scores did not differ significantl y as a function of gender or socio-economic status (SES), Pre- and per inatal complications appear to be related to the development of TD/WD in this sample of children.