Earlier today we reported on new research that shows a link between a parent’s mental health and an increase in the likelihood of having a child develop autism. The research examined Swedish hospital records of children born between 1977 and 2003 who were diagnosed with autism and compared them with children who were not diagnosed with autism.

Then the researchers looked at the rates of psychiatric hospitalizations of either parents between the two groups.

The researchers found that mothers and fathers diagnosed with schizophrenia were about twice as likely to have a child diagnosed with autism. They also found higher rates of depression and personality disorders among mothers, but not fathers.

Knowing whether autism might be more prevalent in families with a history of psychiatric problems could better inform future prevention efforts. Whether the link is passed via the environment (e.g., through the family child-rearing environment) or through genetics, or a combination of the two.

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 1:16 pm and is filed under General, Parenting, Disorders, Depression, Schizophrenia, Children & Teens, Men's Issues, Women's Issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 

Last reviewed:
  On May 5, 2008
  By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.