1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« The present paper reports on the risk of CD [cognitive disabilities] in relatives of AU [autistic] probands and on its relationship with the characteristics of the probands. » (p. 168)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« We investigated 156 first-degree relatives of 46 probands (14 female) of definite DSM-III-R autism and 3 cases of probable autism (meeting the criteria of PDD) and 55 first-degree relatives of 18 (4 female) MR [mentally retarded] probands. Both samples were recruited through (a) the intake of a child and adolescent regional psychiatric hospital, the Hôtel-Dieu du Sacré-Coeur de Québec (HDSC) which provides services to the Quebec metropolitan catchment district and (b) the participation of the parents of the Société Québécoise de l’Autisme (chapitre de Québec). [...] Every child was first diagnosed as AU (DSM-III-R criteria) by a child psychiatrist at the outpatient clinic that he/she was referred to. » (p. 168)

Instruments :
- Vineland Adaptative Behavior scale (Sparrow, Balla + Cicchetti, 1984);
- Questionnaire for parents about the development, medical ans school history.

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« We compared with a family history method the rate of cognitive disabilities (CD) in 156 1st degree relatives of 49 autistic (AU) probands (mean age 9.5 years) to that found in 55 1st degree relatives of 18 mentally retarded (MR) probands (mean age 8.3 years). Broadly defined CD were found in, respectively, 17% and 16% of the relatives of the AU and MR probands. However, the characteristics of the probands associated with a family history of CD are different in AU and MR: Female and low IQ AU probands have more 1stdegree relatives with CD is not specific to autism when compared to mental retardation. The observation that female and low IQ probands have higher family history of CD may suggest heterogeneity within autistic children and provides leads for future family studies. »