Related Experiment Videos
High phenotypic correlations among siblings with autism and pervasive developmental disorders
P Szatmari1, M B Jones, J Holden
1Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
American Journal of Medical Genetics
|July 26, 1996
Summary
Familial factors significantly influence the clinical presentation of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Shared genetic mechanisms likely explain the similarity in symptom severity among affected siblings.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) exhibit significant clinical heterogeneity.
- Understanding familial and genetic influences is crucial for comprehending PDD etiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate familial factors contributing to the clinical variability of PDD within sibships.
- To determine the extent to which shared familial environments and genetics impact PDD symptom severity.
Main Methods:
- Studied 60 families with at least one child diagnosed with PDD.
- Assessed IQ, adaptive behaviors (socialization, communication), and autistic symptoms in affected children.
- Analyzed correlations in traits between affected siblings and between affected and unaffected siblings.
Main Results:
- High intraclass correlations were found for IQ and social behaviors among affected siblings.
- Low correlations were observed for IQ and adaptive behavior between affected and unaffected siblings.
- These findings suggest a strong familial influence on PDD clinical variation.
Conclusions:
- Familial factors, likely including genetic mechanisms, play a significant role in the variation of PDD severity.
- The results support theories on the genetics of autism and heritable factors influencing clinical presentation.