title: The rising prevalence of autism: a prospective longitudinal study in the Faroe Islands.
abstract: We have followed up a 2002 population study of autism prevalence in 15-24-year olds in the Faroe Islands. The rate of ASD grew significantly from 0.56% in 2002 to 0.94% in 2009. Although these results are within the range of typical findings from other studies, there were some interesting details. There were-in addition to 43 originally diagnosed cases in 2002-24 newly discovered cases in 2009 and nearly half of them were females. It is possible that unfamiliarity with the clinical presentation of autism in females have played a significant role in this context. There was diagnostic stability for the overall category of ASD over time in the group diagnosed in childhood (7-16) years, but considerable variability as regards diagnostic sub-groupings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Caledonia House, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 8SJ, UK. eva.kocovska@glasgow.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kočovská
authors.forename: Rannvá
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biskupstø
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carina Gillberg
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ellefsen
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kampmann
authors.forename: Tormóður
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stórá
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Billstedt
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult