A Preliminary Study Of Broader Autism Phenotype In Nucleus Autism Family

Objective:To investigate the main manifestation of broader autism phenotype (BAP) in autism family.Method:One hundred nucleus autism families of a child with an autism disorder and113normal comparison families were explored using the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) assessing BAP-related personality and language characteristics. The BAPQ was administered to parents as a self-report and as an informant (spouse)-based measure.Results:1. Autism fathers had significantly higher BAPQ scores than control fathers on self-report subscales of Aloof and Pragmatic language (PRS). According to the determined clinically significant cutoffs, the autism fathers showed more "Aloof" than controls in self-report and best estimate subscales, and higher rate of "pragmatic language" in informant subscales.2. Autism mothers had significantly higher BAPQ scores than control mothers on all informant subscales and the total BAPQ score: Aloof, PRS, Rigid and total scores. Autism mothers showed higher scores on best estimate subscales of Aloof, Rigid and total scores. According to cutoffs, the autism mothers showed higher rate of "aloof" in informant subscales.3. The autism parents showed higher rate of "Aloof" and "PRS" than control parents in informant subscales. As for best estimate subscales, the autism parents showed more "Rigid" than controls.4. Autism mothers had significantly higher BAPQ scores than autism fathers on informant subscales of "Rigid" and total score. Autism mothers showed higher scores on best estimate subscales of Rigid. Autism mothers rated themselves as more "Aloof" and "Pragmatic language" than fathers. Autism mothers showed higher rate of "Aloof" and "PRS" than fathers in best estimate subscales.5. Control mothers had significantly higher BAPQ scores than control fathers on self-report subscales of "PRS" and total score. Control mothers showed higher scores on informant subscales of "Aloof","Rigid" and total score. Control mothers rated themselves as more "Aloof" than fathers. Control mothers showed higher rate of "Aloof" than fathers in best estimate subscales.Conclusion:1. BAP do exit in Chinese autism nuclear families, the detection rate of Aloof, PRS and Rigid in autism parents is15%、15.5%and7.5%respectively。2. The findings suggest that most features of the broad autism phenotype express comparably in males and females. Autism mothers showed higher rate of BAP than fathers.3. The present data suggest that the BAPQ is likely to find numerous uses in the increasing number of studies aimed at the BAP in non-autistic relatives of autistic individuals.