Pre- and Perinatal Risk Factors for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Versus Youth with Other Mental Health Disorders.

Varela et al. (2024) pulled medical charts from a child psychiatry clinic. They compared 1,177 kids later labeled ASD with kids carrying other mental-health diagnoses. Logistic regression spotted which birth events predicted each group.

Tough delivery events—like breathing problems or forceps use—tilted the odds toward an ASD label. Maternal drug use or having an amnio pointed the other way, toward non-ASD diagnoses.

The result seems to clash with Lee et al. (2022). That big Taiwan registry found four perinatal problems raised ASD risk, but Enrique’s clinic sample says some problems actually lower ASD odds versus other disorders. The gap is about comparison group: Inn-Chi compared against the general population; Enrique compared ASD against kids already in psych care.

Chien et al. (2019) also link prenatal issues to worse ASD symptoms. Enrique extends this line by showing the same events can help rule ASD in or out when other diagnoses are on the table.

Perales-Marín et al. (2021) showed ASD subgroups have unique prenatal profiles. Enrique sharpens the picture: delivery stress may be the ASD signature, while maternal substance use signals something else.

When you review intake history, flag tough delivery stories as a soft red flag for ASD. If the chart shows maternal drug use or amnio, think broader diagnostic palette first. This quick screen can guide your next steps—ADOS scheduling, parent interview topics, or referral questions—without extra cost or time.