@article{b6068487049c41c4803c3eba02ea770f,
title = "Beyond autism: A baby siblings research consortium study of high-risk children at three years of age",
abstract = "Objective: First-degree relatives of persons with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for ASD-related characteristics. As little is known about the early expression of these characteristics, this study characterizes the non-ASD outcomes of 3-year-old high-risk (HR) siblings of children with ASD. Method: Two groups of children without ASD participated: 507 HR siblings and 324 low-risk (LR) control subjects (no known relatives with ASD). Children were enrolled at a mean age of 8 months, and outcomes were assessed at 3 years. Outcome measures were Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) calibrated severity scores, and Mullen Verbal and Non-Verbal Developmental Quotients (DQ). Results: At 3 years, HR siblings without an ASD outcome exhibited higher mean ADOS severity scores and lower verbal and non-verbal DQs than LR controls. HR siblings were over-represented (21% HR versus 7% LR) in latent classes characterized by elevated ADOS severity and/or low to low-average DQs. The remaining HR siblings without ASD outcomes (79%) belonged to classes in which they were not differentially represented with respect to LR siblings. Conclusions: Having removed a previously identified 18.7% of HR siblings with ASD outcomes from all analyses, HR siblings nevertheless exhibited higher mean levels of ASD severity and lower levels of developmental functioning than LR children. However, the latent class membership of four-fifths of the HR siblings was not significantly different from that of LR control subjects. One-fifth of HR siblings belonged to classes characterized by higher ASD severity and/or lower levels of developmental functioning. This empirically derived characterization of an early-emerging pattern of difficulties in a minority of 3-year-old HR siblings suggests the importance of developmental surveillance and early intervention for these children.",
keywords = "ASD, broad autism phenotype, high-risk siblings, outcome",
author = "Daniel Messinger and Young, {Gregory S.} and Sally Ozonoff and Karen Dobkins and Alice Carter and Lonnie Zwaigenbaum and Landa, {Rebecca J.} and Tony Charman and Stone, {Wendy L.} and Constantino, {John N.} and Ted Hutman and Carver, {Leslie J.} and Susan Bryson and Iverson, {Jana M.} and Strauss, {Mark S.} and Rogers, {Sally J.} and Marian Sigman",
note = "Funding Information: Autism Speaks provided funding for the creation of a Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) database and data analysis (G.S.Y.). Data collection was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants MH068398 (S.O., S.J.R., G.S.Y.), NIH DC10290 (A.C.), NIH HD047417 (D.M.), NIH HD057284 (W.L.S., D.M.), NIH HD042541 (J.N.C.), HD052804 (K.D., L.J.C.), HD54979 (J.M.I.), NIH U54-MH066417 and MH059630 (R.J.L.), NIH U54-MH068172 (M.S., T.H.), and NIH HD043292 (W.L.S.); the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation 94-66/3 and 97-00073 (M.S.); and the Canadian Institute for Health Research 62924 and 102665 (L.Z., S.B.). Funding Information: Disclosure: Dr. Carter has received royalties from the Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA). Dr. Charman has received grant or research support from the UK Medical Research Council, the European Science Foundation, Autistica, Research Autism, the Autism Education Trust, and Autism Speaks. He has received royalties from Guilford Press and Sage. Dr. Constantino has received grant or research support from NIH, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, Autism Speaks, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has received royalties for the authorship of assessment tools from Western Psychological Services (SRS). Dr. Rogers is the author of Early Start Denver Model for Young Children With Autism, published by Guilford Press, from which she has received royalties. Dr. Sigman is deceased. Drs. Messinger, Young, Ozonoff, Dobkins, Zwaigenbaum, Landa, Stone, Hutman, Carver, Bryson, Iverson, and Strauss report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. ",
year = "2013",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1016/j.jaac.2012.12.011",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "52",
pages = "300--308.e1",
journal = "Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry",
issn = "0890-8567",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
number = "3",
}