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

Abstract

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.

Parental Perspectives on Psychiatric Comorbidity in Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorders Receiving Publicly Funded Mental Health Services

“…The lack of parents' history of psychiatric disorders is another limitation of this study. This information is important not only to increase comprehension of PC in ASD children Wiggins et al ( 119 ), but also to accurately interpreting parent–report. For example, the possible negative bias of anxious or depressed parents can lead them to overestimate the amount of symptoms of their own kid ( 120 ).…”

Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Child and Adolescent Mental Health-Current Trends and Future Challenges

“…RCT compared children with anxiety with ASD and those without ASD. It is known that these two cohorts share phenotypes, similar developmental, behavioural, and cognitive profiles ( Wiggins et al, 2019 ) which overlap and could have confounded results in the study, this observation recommended further studies to compare alliance in ASD with other disorders ( Klebanoff et al, 2019 ). Statistical significance was possibly compromised by small sample size and it was an issue in the trials by way of introducing sampling bias leading to the reduced power of studies ( Anderson et al, 2012 ; Levin et al, 2012 ; Chu et al, 2014 ; McLeod et al, 2014 ; Labouliere et al, 2017 ; Zorzella et al, 2017 ; Carpenter et al, 2018 ; Kirsch et al, 2018 ; Albaum et al, 2020 ; Loos et al, 2020 ).…”

Postnatal maternal depressive symptoms and behavioural outcomes in term- and preterm-born toddlers

“…The results showing an association between maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and childhood ASD are less robust and need to be interpreted with caution. Although some prior studies have reported an association between antenatal maternal depression and offspring’s ASD, 10,43 and postnatal depression has been suggested as a potential focus of cross-domain studies of ASD, 44 there is no clear aetiological role of maternal postnatal depression in the development of ASD per se . Also, given that mothers with ASD are more likely to suffer from perinatal depression than mothers without ASD, 45 and ASD is highly heritable, 46 maternal depression may be a confounder in our observed results.…”