title: Increased Risk for Substance Use-Related Problems in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
abstract: Despite limited and ambiguous empirical data, substance use-related problems have been assumed to be rare among patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Using Swedish population-based registers we identified 26,986 individuals diagnosed with ASD during 1973-2009, and their 96,557 non-ASD relatives. ASD, without diagnosed comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disability, was related to a doubled risk of substance use-related problems. The risk of substance use-related problems was the highest among individuals with ASD and ADHD. Further, risks of substance use-related problems were increased among full siblings of ASD probands, half-siblings and parents. We conclude that ASD is a risk factor for substance use-related problems. The elevated risks among relatives of probands with ASD suggest shared familial (genetic and/or shared environmental) liability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MEB, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. agnieszka.butwicka@ki.se.|Department of Child Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. agnieszka.butwicka@ki.se.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7247-2141
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butwicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MEB, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Långström
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MEB, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.|Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health (CELAM), University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.|Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lundström
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serlachius
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MEB, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.|Lung and Allergy Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frisén
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MEB, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D013548:Sweden
keywords: ADHD; Addiction; Autism spectrum disorder; ICD; Intellectual disability