title: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Adopted After Early Care Breakdown.
abstract: Syndromic autism has been described in children adopted after orphanage rearing. We investigated whether the same existed in children adopted after family breakdown. Families of 54/60 adopted children aged 6-11 years (mean 102 months; SD 20; 45% male) returned screening questionnaires for autism spectrum disorder (ASD); 21/54 (39%) screened positive. Detailed in-person phenotyping of screen positive cases showed ASD in 6/54 (11%), Broad ASD (sub threshold traits) in 10/54 (18.5%); 5/54 (9%) screened false positive. The ASD group showed impairments across both social communication and restrictive repetitive behaviour domains, Broad ASD was more mixed. These rates, much higher than population prevalence, are comparable with institutionalised samples. There are implications for developmental science, and assessment, treatment and policy for adopted children.
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, Institute of Brain Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Room 3.311, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. jonathan.green@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, Institute of Brain Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Room 3.311, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leadbitter
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, Institute of Brain Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Room 3.311, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, 225 Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester, Lancashire, OL6 7SR, UK.
authors.forename: Kishan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adoption; Autism spectrum disorder; Early adversity; Maltreatment; Neglect; Pre-natal adversity