A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS AND LATER AUTISTIC DISORDER

The precise etiology of autism remains unclear. Obstetric adversity ha s been described as one factor that may increase the risk for the diso rder. We examined the contemporaneous birth records of 49 children sat isfying DSM-III-R criteria for autistic disorder, at four Dublin mater nity hospitals, using the previous same-sew live birth in that hospita l 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. Au tistic individuals did not differ from controls in terms of previously described risk factors for this disorder (maternal age, maternal pari ty, birth order, and low birth weight) in autism. These data do not su pport the view that OCs increase the risk for later autism.