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Narrowly versus broadly defined autism spectrum disorders: differences in pre- and perinatal risk factors

Janne C Visser1, Nanda Rommelse, Lianne Vink

  • 1Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Reinier Postlaan 12, 6525 GC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.c.visser@psy.umcn.nl

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|October 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal and perinatal risks differ between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) subtypes. Smoking during pregnancy specifically impacts broadly defined ASD and is linked to lower IQ in these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Psychiatry
  • Genetics and Etiology

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with varying diagnostic criteria.
  • Understanding the etiological factors contributing to different ASD phenotypes is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Previous research has identified various prenatal and perinatal risk factors, but their differential impact on ASD subtypes is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct roles of prenatal and perinatal risk factors in narrowly defined Autistic Disorder (AD) versus broadly defined Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
  • To examine how these risks influence core ASD symptom domains, intellectual quotient (IQ), and comorbid conditions.
  • To explore potential differences in etiological contributors between distinct ASD phenotypes.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving children diagnosed with DSM-IV Autistic Disorder (n=121) or PDD-NOS (n=75) and a typical control group (n=311).
  • Longitudinal diagnostic assessments conducted between 12-49 months and re-evaluated between 43-98 months in a majority of cases.
  • Analysis of prenatal (e.g., maternal infections, stress, smoking) and perinatal (e.g., birth order, postnatal condition) risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD were more likely to be firstborn and experience suboptimal postnatal conditions compared to controls.
  • Mothers of children with ASD reported higher rates of infections and stress during pregnancy.
  • While ASD subgroups shared overlapping risks, PDD-NOS cases showed higher exposure to smoking during pregnancy (SDP) and a negative association between smoking and IQ, distinct from AD.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal and perinatal risk factors exhibit differential contributions to narrowly versus broadly defined autism spectrum disorder.
  • Smoking during pregnancy appears to be a more significant risk factor for broadly defined PDD-NOS and is associated with reduced IQ in these cases.
  • These findings suggest distinct etiological pathways underlying different ASD phenotypes, highlighting the importance of considering diagnostic specificity in research and clinical practice.

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