Autism spectrum disorders

What are autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions characterised by problems in social interaction and communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviours. Symptoms usually appear before three years of age, but can appear later. Autism spectrum disorders are often associated intellectual disability, however average-IQ is frequent.

What is the evidence for comorbid autism spectrum disorders?

Moderate to high quality evidence finds a large effect of more autistic symptoms in people with schizophrenia compared to controls, and a large effect of fewer autistic symptoms in people with schizophrenia compared to people with an autistic spectrum disorder.

The prevalence of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in people with an autism spectrum disorder is around 9.5%. In people with autism and an IQ over 70, the prevalence rate is lower, around 6.4%. The rate of schizophrenia in people with autism is significantly is higher than in people without autism.

June 2020

Last updated at: 4:12 am, 17th June 2020
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