British Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 201, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 109-115
Migration and autism spectrum disorder: Population-based study (Article) (Open Access)
Magnusson C.* ,
Rai D. ,
Goodman A. ,
Lundberg M. ,
Idring S. ,
Svensson A. ,
Koupil I. ,
Serlachius E. ,
Dalman C.
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a
Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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b
Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
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c
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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d
Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Neuropsychiatric Resource Team Southeast Stockholm, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
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e
Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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f
Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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g
Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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h
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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i
Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract
Background: Migration has been implicated as a risk factor for autism, but evidence is limited and inconsistent. Aims: To investigate the relationship between parental migration status and risk of autism spectrum disorder, taking into consideration the importance of region of origin, timing of migration and possible discrepancies in associations between autism subtypes. Method: Record-linkage study within the total child population of Stockholm County between 2001 and 2007. Individuals with high- and low-functioning autism were defined as having autism spectrum disorder with and without comorbid intellectual disability, and ascertained via health and habilitation service registers. Results: In total, 4952 individuals with autism spectrum disorder were identified, comprising 2855 children with high-functioning autism and 2097 children with low-functioning autism. Children of migrant parents were at increased risk of low-functioning autism (odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.7); this risk was highest when parents migrated from regions with a low human development index, and peaked when migration occurred around pregnancy (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.7-3.0). A decreased risk of high-functioning autism was observed in children of migrant parents, regardless of area of origin or timing of migration. Parental age, income or obstetric complications did not fully explain any of these associations. Conclusions: Environmental factors associated with migration may contribute to the development of autism presenting with comorbid intellectual disability, especially when acting in utero. High- and low-functioning autism may have partly different aetiologies, and should be studied separately.
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84862176359&doi=10.1192%2fbjp.bp.111.095125&partnerID=40&md5=39dacf80996974df30472811d60469ba
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.095125
ISSN: 00071250
Cited by: 64
Original Language: English