title: [An analysis of the developmental trajectory of children with autism spectrum disorders].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the factors that affect the developmental trajectory in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by means of a questionnaire-based retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 292 consecutive Japanese children with ASD who visited the pediatric developmental clinic at the Osaka University Hospital. Questionnaires were completed by caregivers on their first visit and were used for obtaining demographic information as well as nurturing environment and history of supportive intervention. Caregivers also fulfilled out The Infant Behavior Checklist (revised, in Japanese), and The Children's Behavior Questionnaire (revised, in Japanese). The scores for autistic traits during infancy and at present were compared in order to evaluate the developmental trajectory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early intervention may attenuate ASD symptoms, whereas unfavorable domestic conditions, any psychiatric or neurological disorder in a family member, and epilepsy as a co-morbidity may aggravate these symptoms. In addition, impaired social interaction among all other ASD symptoms was specifically improved by early intervention, even if such intervention was not tailored to ASD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early intervention and family support are important for children with ASD to promote their social development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka.
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniike
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior