Trends in autism prevalence: diagnostic substitution revisited
Helen Coo1, Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz, Jennifer E V Lloyd
1Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, c/o Ongwanada Resource Centre, 191 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7M 8A6.
Abstract:
There has been little evidence to support the hypothesis that diagnostic substitution may contribute to increases in the administrative prevalence of autism. We examined trends in assignment of special education codes to British Columbia (BC) school children who had an autism code in at least 1 year between 1996 and 2004, inclusive. The proportion of children with an autism code increased from 12.3/10,000 in 1996 to 43.1/10,000 in 2004; 51.9% of this increase was attributable to children switching from another special education classification to autism (16.0/10,000). Taking into account the reverse situation (children with an autism code switching to another special education category (5.9/10.000)), diagnostic substitution accounted for at least one-third of the increase in autism prevalence over the study period.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:27Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...