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Obstetrical Complications/Risk Factors

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Definition

A range of factors can increase the risk to the developing fetus during pregnancy and at the time of birth. These range from genetic abnormalities in the fetus, complications for the mother in carrying the child to term, and various environmental factors in utero – for example, exposure to alcohol. Although much interest has centered on possible issues of obstetrical risk in autism and although such factors can clearly impact on development of the child, data for children with autism have been somewhat lacking and/or difficult to interpret.

Historical Background

Kanner (1943) suggested that autism is a congenital condition. Recent work has confirmed a very strong genetic basis for autism while leaving open the possibility for the operation of nongenetic factors to some, although relatively to a much smaller, degree (Rutter 2005; Wing and Potter 2002). The early literature on this topic was reviewed by Tsai (1987) and others (e.g., Bryson et al. 1988; Levy et al. 1988; Lanzi...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Study Center, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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  1. Fred R. Volkmar
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Correspondence to Fred R. Volkmar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Volkmar, F.R. (2020). Obstetrical Complications/Risk Factors. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_881-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_881-3

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

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