Perceived child impairment and the ‘autism epidemic’

Bibliographic Data

ID21344570
AuthorsSven Lundstrom (0000-0001-7235-8499, University of Gothenburg, corresponding author), Sebastian Lundstrom (Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden), Mark J Taylor (0000-0001-5161-4182, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden), Henrik Larsson (0000-0002-6851-3297, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden), Paul Lichtenstein (0000-0003-3037-5287, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden), Ralf Kuja‐Halkola (0000-0002-3765-2067, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden), Christopher Gillberg (0000-0001-8848-1934, Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden)
Year2022
Volume63
Issue5
Pages591-598
Publication date2022-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9630 • E-ISSN: 1469-7610
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jcpp.13497
PMID34363395
OpenAlexW3187128876
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited35

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased substantially across the world. Much - or even most - prevalence increase seems to reflect changes in diagnostic practice and ascertainment. A key part of ASD assessment is to document that the relevant symptoms are associated with clinical impairment. The aim of the present study is to capitalize on a nationwide longitudinal study spanning 15 consecutive birth year cohorts in order to investigate whether there has been a secular change in how parents perceive the impairment and suffering conferred by autism symptomatology in their children. METHODS: Data came from the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (27,240 individuals), where parents had reported on their child's ASD symptoms and impairment. Impairment due to ASD symptoms was regressed on an ASD symptom score across time. This was done for five 3-year birth cohorts (1995-1997, 1998-2000, 2001-2003, 2004-2006, and 2007-2009). RESULTS: Reported impairment increased with consecutively later birth cohorts. This was evident across all levels of autism symptomatology. At clinically relevant levels of symptomatology, parents of those born 2007-2009 reported a 23% higher degree of impairment as compared with parents of those born in 1995-1997. The relative difference, however, was even greater at levels that previously would have been considered below the diagnostic threshold. DISCUSSION: The results presented here contribute to the notion of a growing diffuseness in the conceptualization of the ASD diagnosis by adding the element of secular changes in the parental perception of the consequences of ASD symptom expression

Autism · Autism spectrum disorder · Longitudinal study · Psychiatry · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Clinical Psychology · Family and Disability Support Research · Medicine · Psychology · Pediatrics

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