Obstetric and Parental Psychiatric Variables as Potential Predictors of Autism Severity.

Associations between obstetric and parental psychiatric variables and subjects’ Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) domain scores were examined using linear mixed effects models. Data for the 228 families studied were provided by the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange. Hypertension ( P = 0.002), preeclampsia ( P = 0.021) and generalized edema ( P = 0.011) were associated with higher ADI-R communication scores. Hypertension ( P = 0.011), albuminuria ( P = 0.039) and generalized edema ( P = 0.009) were associated with higher ADI-R repetitive behaviors scores. Parent depression was associated with higher ADI-R repetitive behaviors scores ( P = 0.005), and parent anxiety with lower ADOS social/communication composite scores ( P = 0.025). The associations between hypertension-related obstetric conditions and autistic severity warrant further investigation and raise intriguing questions regarding potential causal and modifying factors in autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]