title: The association between autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A review of eight alternate models of co-occurrence.
abstract: Although now believed to be two distinct disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) share multiple phenotypic similarities and risk factors, and have been reported to co-occur at elevated rates. In this narrative review, we give a brief overview of the phenomenological, genetic, environmental, and imaging evidence for the overlap between ASD and SSD, highlighting similarities and areas of distinction. We examine eight possible alternate models of explanation for the association and comorbidity between the disorders, and set out a research agenda to test these models. Understanding how and why these disorders co-occur has important implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, as well as for developing fundamental aetiological models of the disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: k.e.chisholm.1@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chisholm
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abu-Akel
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, National Neuroscience Facility, Level 3, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry St, Carlton, Vic, 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Aspergers's; Autism; Comorbidity; Diagnosis; Model; Psychosis; Schizophrenia