A Phenotype of Childhood Autism Is Associated with Preexisting Maternal Anxiety and Depression

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Abnorm Child Psychol
• Personal Author:
  Wiggins, Lisa D. ; Rubenstein, Eric ; Daniels, Julie ; DiGuiseppi, Carolyn ; Yeargin-Allsopp, Marshalyn ; Schieve, Laura A. ; Tian, Lin H. ; Sabourin, Katherine ; Moody, Eric ; Pinto-Martin, Jennifer ; Reyes, Nuri ; Levy, Susan E.
• Description:
  This study explored whether ASD phenotypes in the child were associated with a history of anxiety or depression in the mother. We hypothesized that an ASD profile in children characterized by mild delays and increased rates of dysregulation would be associated with preexisting maternal anxiety or depression. Participants were 672 preschool children with ASD and their mothers. Children were classified as ASD after a comprehensive developmental evaluation. Mothers reported whether a healthcare provider ever diagnosed them with anxiety or depression before the birth of their child. Four child ASD phenotypes were derived from latent class analysis: Mild Language Delay with Cognitive Rigidity (Type 1), Significant Developmental Delay with Repetitive Motor Behaviors (Type 2), General Developmental Delay (Type 3), and Mild Language and Motor Delay with Dysregulation (i.e., aggression, anxiety, depression, emotional reactivity, inattention, somatic complaints, and sleep problems) (Type 4). Type 2 ASD served as the referent category in statistical analyses. Results showed that 22.6% of mothers reported a diagnosis of anxiety or depression before the birth of their child. Maternal anxiety or depression was associated with 2.7 times the odds (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 5.3) of Type 4 or Dysregulated ASD in the child; maternal anxiety and depression was associated with 4.4 times the odds (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 14.0) of Type 4 or Dysregulated ASD in the child. Our findings suggest an association between Dysregulated ASD in the child and anxiety and depression in the mother. These findings can enhance screening methods and inform future research efforts.
• Subjects:
  Anxiety Article Autism Depression Maternal Phenotype
• Source:
  J Abnorm Child Psychol. 47(4):731-740
• Pubmed ID:
  30128718
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6384146
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U10DD000184/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U10 DD000180/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000181/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U10DD000498/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U10DD000180/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U10 DD000181/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000183/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U10 DD000184/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U01 DD000498/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States ; U10 DD000182/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000182/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U10 DD000183/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  47
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:613ad12ef57026f04e796d48655fe6c804ba7932ea6efc6510fa1211f46f3264
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/76125/cdc_76125_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 206.26 KB ]