Increased risk of autism spectrum disorders at short and long interpregnancy intervals in Finland.

Objective: Both short and long interpregnancy intervals (IPI) are believed to present possible adverse conditions for fetal development. Short IPI has recently been associated with increased risk of autism, but whether long IPI increases risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has not been thoroughly investigated. We investigated the association between short and long IPI in a Finnish population-based study.

The association between congenital anomalies and autism spectrum disorders in a Finnish national birth cohort.

Aim: The first aim of this study was to evaluate the association between different subgroups of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) (childhood autism, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder/pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified [PDD/PDD-NOS]) and congenital anomalies. Second, we assessed the association among intellectually disabled children with ASDs in the subgroups of childhood autism and PDD/PDD-NOS.

Method: Nationwide population-based register data for children with a diagnosis of ASD (n=4449; 3548 males, 901 females) were collected during years 1987-2000 from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.

Epilepsy among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: a population-based study.

The present population-based study examines associations between epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The cohort includes register data of 4,705 children born between 1987 and 2005 and diagnosed as cases of childhood autism, Asperger's syndrome or pervasive developmental disorders--not otherwise specified. Each case was matched to four controls by gender, date of birth, place of birth, and residence in Finland.

Bipolar disorder and parental psychopathology.

Purpose: Few population-based studies have examined the association between parental psychopathology and bipolar disorder (BPD) in offspring. One limitation is lack of control for potential confounding by indicators of parental socio-economic status or maternal smoking during pregnancy. Furthermore, none of them included analyses restricted to parental diagnoses received prior to the birth of the offspring.

Variation by diagnostic subtype in risk for autism spectrum disorders associated with maternal parity among Finnish births.

Background: Associations between maternal parity and outcomes in offspring may provide evidence for involvement of prenatal exposures. The objective of this study was to determine whether risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is associated with maternal parity.

Methods: Diagnoses of childhood autism, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) were examined separately and as a group.

Parental psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorders.

The present population-based, case-control study examines associations between specific parental psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) including childhood autism, Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS). The cohort includes 4713 children born between 1987 and 2005 with diagnoses of childhood autism, Asperger's syndrome or PDD-NOS. Cases were ascertained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register, and each was matched to four controls by gender, date of birth, place of birth, and residence in Finland.