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Emergence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children from Simplex Families: Relations to Parental Perceptions of Etiology

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Abstract

Current research describes a four-category scheme of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) onset: early, regressive, plateau, delay + regression. To replicate prevalence of different onset types, ASD onset (per the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised) was examined in a large North American sample; for a subset, parents’ causal beliefs were ascertained via the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire to examine potential associations with ASD-onset types. Onset rates were similar across samples, with a slightly higher proportion of children in the subsample categorized with regression. Top-rated causes of ASD were genetics, brain structure, will of God, toxins in vaccines, and environmental pollution. Parents reporting regression more often believed that toxins in vaccines caused ASD. Influences on treatment selection and broader public-health ramifications are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Simons Foundation (SFARIto SSC-15 to R. Goin-Kochel and A. Beaudet). We are grateful to all of the families at the participating Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) sites, as well as the principal investigators (A. Beaudet, R. Bernier, J. Constantino, E. Cook, E. Fombonne, D. Geschwind, R. Goin-Kochel, E. Hanson, D. Grice, A. Klin, D. Ledbetter, C. Lord, C. Martin, D. Martin, R. Maxim, J. Miles, O. Ousley, K. Pelphrey, B. Peterson, J. Piggot, C. Saulnier, M. State, W. Stone, J. Sutcliffe, C. Walsh, Z. Warren, E. Wijsman). We appreciate obtaining access to phenotypic data on SFARI Base. Approved researchers can obtain the SSC population dataset described in this study (https://ordering.base.sfari.org/~browse_collection/archive[sfari_collection_v14_1]/ui:view()) by applying at https://base.sfari.org.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Robin P. Goin-Kochel

  2. University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Sarah S. Mire

  3. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Allison G. Dempsey

  4. Texas Children’s Hospital Autism Center, 8080 N. Stadium Drive, Suite 180, Houston, TX, 77054, USA

    Robin P. Goin-Kochel

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  1. Robin P. Goin-Kochel
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Correspondence to Robin P. Goin-Kochel.

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Goin-Kochel, R.P., Mire, S.S. & Dempsey, A.G. Emergence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children from Simplex Families: Relations to Parental Perceptions of Etiology. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 1451–1463 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2310-8

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