Autism spectrum disorder reclassified: a second look at the 1980s Utah/UCLA Autism Epidemiologic Study.
The purpose of the present study was to re-examine diagnostic data from a state-wide autism prevalence study (n = 489) conducted in the 1980s to investigate the impact of broader diagnostic criteria on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) case status. Sixty-four (59 %) of the 108 originally "Diagnosed Not Autistic" met the current ASD case definition. The average IQ estimate in the newly identified group (IQ = 35.58; SD = 23.01) was significantly lower than in the original group (IQ = 56.19 SD = 21.21; t = 5.75; p < .0001). Today's diagnostic criteria applied to participants ascertained in the 1980s identified more cases of autism with intellectual disability. The current analysis puts this historic work into context and highlights differences in ascertainment between epidemiological studies performed decades ago and those of today.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 650 Komas Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Judith S
JS
Miller
Deborah
D
Bilder
Megan
M
Farley
Hilary
H
Coon
Judith
J
Pinborough-Zimmerman
William
W
Jenson
Catherine E
CE
Rice
Eric
E
Fombonne
Carmen B
CB
Pingree
Edward
E
Ritvo
Riva-Ariella
RA
Ritvo
William M
WM
McMahon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult