Autism spectrum disorders and autistic like traits

Lundström, S., Chang, Z., Rastam, M., Gillberg, C. , Larsson, H., Anckarsäter, H. and Lichtenstein, P. (2012) Autism spectrum disorders and autistic like traits. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(1), pp. 46-52. (doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.144)

Abstract

<p>Context: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been suggested to represent the extreme end of a normal distribution of autisticlike traits (ALTs). However, the evidence of this notion is inconclusive.</p> <p>Objective: To study whether there are similar genetic and/or environmental etiologies behind ASDs and ALTs.</p> <p>Design: A nationwide twin study.</p> <p>Participants Consenting parents of all Swedish twins aged 9 and 12 years, born between July 1, 1992, and December 31, 2001 (n = 19 208), were interviewed by telephone to screen for child psychiatric conditions, including ASDs.</p> <p>Main Outcome Measures: Two validated cutoffs for ASDs, 2 cutoffs encompassing the normal variation, and 1 continuous measure of ALTs were used with DeFries-Fulker extreme-end analyses and standard twin study methods.</p> <p>Results: We discerned a strong correlation between the 4 cutoffs and the full variation of ALTs. The correlation was primarily affected by genes. We also found that the heritability for the 4 cutoffs was similar.</p> <p>Conclusion: We demonstrate an etiological similarity between ASDs and ALTs in the normal variation and, with results from previous studies, our data suggest that ASDs and ALTs are etiologically linked.</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gillberg, Professor Christopher
• Authors: Lundström, S., Chang, Z., Rastam, M., Gillberg, C., Larsson, H., Anckarsäter, H., and Lichtenstein, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Archives of General Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0003-990X
• ISSN (Online): 2168-6238