Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Behavioral comparisons in autistic individuals from multiplex and singleton families.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cuccaro, ML; Shao, Y; Bass, MP; Abramson, RK; Ravan, SA; Wright, HH; Wolpert, CM; Donnelly, SL; Pericak-Vance, MA
Published in: J Autism Dev Disord
February 2003

Autistic disorder (AD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. The role of genetics in AD etiology is well established, and it is postulated that anywhere from 2 to 10 genes could be involved. As part of a larger study to identify these genetic effects we have ascertained a series of AD families: Sporadic (SP, 1 known AD case per family and no known history of AD) and multiplex (MP, > or = 2 cases per family). The underlying etiology of both family types is unknown. It is possible that MP families may constitute a unique subset of families in which the disease phenotype is more likely due to genetic factors. Clinical differences between the two family types could represent underlying genetic heterogeneity. We examined ADI-R data for 69 probands from MP families and 88 from SP families in order to compare and contrast the clinical phenotypes for each group as a function of verbal versus nonverbal status. Multivariate analysis controlling for covariates of age at examination, gender, and race (MANCOVA) revealed no differences between either the verbal or nonverbal MP and SP groups for the three ADI-R area scores: social interaction, communication, and restricted/repetitive interests or behaviors. These data failed to find clinical heterogeneity between MP and SP family types. This supports previous work that indicated that autism features are not useful as tools to index genetic heterogeneity. Thus, although there may be different underlying etiologic mechanisms in the SP and MP probands, there are no distinct behavioral patterns associated with probands from MP families versus SP families. These results suggests the possibility that common etiologic mechanisms, either genetic and/or environmental, could underlie all of AD.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Autism Dev Disord

DOI

ISSN

0162-3257

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

33

Issue

1

Start / End Page

87 / 91

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder
  • Social Behavior Disorders
  • Phenotype
  • Male
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Communication Disorders
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Cuccaro, M. L., Shao, Y., Bass, M. P., Abramson, R. K., Ravan, S. A., Wright, H. H., … Pericak-Vance, M. A. (2003). Behavioral comparisons in autistic individuals from multiplex and singleton families. J Autism Dev Disord, 33(1), 87–91. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022286622534
Cuccaro, Michael L., Yujun Shao, Meredyth P. Bass, Ruth K. Abramson, Sarah A. Ravan, Harry H. Wright, Chantelle M. Wolpert, Shannon L. Donnelly, and Margaret A. Pericak-Vance. “Behavioral comparisons in autistic individuals from multiplex and singleton families.J Autism Dev Disord 33, no. 1 (February 2003): 87–91. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022286622534.
Cuccaro ML, Shao Y, Bass MP, Abramson RK, Ravan SA, Wright HH, et al. Behavioral comparisons in autistic individuals from multiplex and singleton families. J Autism Dev Disord. 2003 Feb;33(1):87–91.
Cuccaro, Michael L., et al. “Behavioral comparisons in autistic individuals from multiplex and singleton families.J Autism Dev Disord, vol. 33, no. 1, Feb. 2003, pp. 87–91. Pubmed, doi:10.1023/a:1022286622534.
Cuccaro ML, Shao Y, Bass MP, Abramson RK, Ravan SA, Wright HH, Wolpert CM, Donnelly SL, Pericak-Vance MA. Behavioral comparisons in autistic individuals from multiplex and singleton families. J Autism Dev Disord. 2003 Feb;33(1):87–91.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Autism Dev Disord

DOI

ISSN

0162-3257

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

33

Issue

1

Start / End Page

87 / 91

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder
  • Social Behavior Disorders
  • Phenotype
  • Male
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Communication Disorders