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. 2023 Aug 2;3(4):e12189.
doi: 10.1002/jcv2.12189. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Three year outcomes in infants with a family history of autism and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Tony Charman  1 , Greg Pasco  1 , Alexandra Hendry  2 , Tessel Bazelmans  1 , Nisha Narvekar  1 , Amy Goodwin  1 , Hanna Halkola  1 , Mary Agyapong  1 , Rebecca Holman  3 , Jannath Begum Ali  3 , Mutluhan Ersoy  4 , Mark H Johnson  3   5 , Andrew Pickles  1 , Emily J H Jones  3 ; STAARS Team
Affiliations

Three year outcomes in infants with a family history of autism and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Tony Charman et al. JCPP Adv. .

Abstract

Background: Most research on early outcomes in infants with a family history (FH) of autism has focussed on categorically defined autism, although some have language and developmental delays. Less is known about outcomes in infants with a FH of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: Infants with and without a FH of autism and/or ADHD, due to a first-degree relative with either or both conditions, were recruited at 5 or 10 months. Three year outcomes were characterised using latent profile analysis (LPA) across measures of cognitive ability, adaptive functioning and autism, ADHD and anxiety traits (n = 131). We additionally ran an LPA using only autism and ADHD measures, and the broader LPA in an independent cohort (n = 139) and in both cohorts combined (n = 270).

Results: A Low Developmental Level + High Behavioural Concerns class had elevated autism, ADHD and anxiety scores, low cognitive and adaptive function, and included all but one child with autism. A Low Developmental Level + Typical Behaviour class had average cognitive ability and typical behaviour but low adaptive function. A Typical Developmental Level + Some Behavioural Concerns class had average cognitive and adaptive function but slightly elevated behaviour scores. A High Developmental Level + Typical Behaviour class had above average cognitive ability and typical behaviour. All four LPAs identified classes characterised by combinations of either, or both, Low Development Level and elevated behaviour scores, as well as a typically developing class. No classes had elevated autism or ADHD traits in isolation.

Conclusions: Some infants with a FH of autism or ADHD have atypical developmental and behavioural outcomes, but do not show strong autism or ADHD traits in isolation. The field needs to recalibrate aims and methods to embrace the broader transdiagnostic pattern of outcomes seen in these infants.

Keywords: ADHD; autism; early childhood; infancy; latent profile analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

TC has served as a paid consultant to F. Hoffmann‐La Roche Ltd. and Servier; and has received royalties from Sage Publications and Guilford Publications. AP receives royalties from Western Psychological Services, Imperial College Press, and OUP. MJ receives royalties from Wiley‐Blackwell, OUP and MIT Press. EJ is a Joint Editor on JCPP Advances. The remaining authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Profile on indicator variables of latent profile analysis (LPA) outcome classes. Y‐Axis scale is z‐score derived separately for each measure from the current sample so all measures are similarly scaled to provide a profile across the measures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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