Recurrence Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study

By Sally Ozonoff, G. Young, A. Carter, Daniel S. Messinger, N. Yirmiya, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Susan E. Bryson, L. Carver, J. Constantino, K. Dobkins and 6 more. Pediatrics, 2011

1,414 citations recorded by the source corpus.

OBJECTIVE: The recurrence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is estimated to be between 3% and 10%, but previous research was limited by small sample sizes and biases related to ascertainment, reporting, and stoppage factors. This study used prospective methods to obtain an updated estimate of sibling recurrence risk for ASD. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study of infants at risk for ASD was conducted by a multisite international network, the Baby Siblings Research Consortium. Infants (n = 664) with an older biological sibling with ASD were followed from early in life to 36 months, when they were classified as having or not having ASD. An ASD classification required surpassing the cutoff of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and receiving a clinical diagnosis from an expert clinician. RESULTS: A total of 18.7% of the infants developed ASD. Infant gender and the presence of >1 older affected sibling were significant predictors of ASD outcome, and there was an almost threefold increase in risk for male subjects and an additional twofold increase in risk if there was >1 older affected sibling. The age of the infant at study enrollment, the gender and functioning level of the infant's older sibling, and other demographic factors did not predict ASD outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The sibling recurrence rate of ASD is higher than suggested by previous estimates. The size of the current sample and prospective nature of data collection minimized many limitations of previous studies of sibling recurrence. Clinical implications, including genetic counseling, are discussed.

Subfields: Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental health

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/aac6877730e97316743dc94fa95d625fbcbf9187

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Clinical Psychology

In Cognitive Neuroscience

In Psychiatry and Mental health

Citations in the corpus

Differences in White Matter Fiber Tract Development Present from 6 to 24 Months in Infants with Autism (2012, background): “ASD represents a significant public health concern, affecting upward of 1 in 110 children with a recurrence rate among at-risk families of nearly 1 in 5 (1, 2).”
The Changing Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2016, background): “Additionally, estimates of recurrence risk among siblings of autistic children range from 3% to 18% (71, 138, 155).”
Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. (2014, background): “35 36-38 In addition, high rates of learning/language problems and social disability and a possible increase in the risk for mood and anxiety disorders has been noted in family members.”