Autism linked to Parents Mental illness
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Autism linked to Parents Mental illness
| Mon, 05-05-2008 - 3:40pm |
What do you all think about the article released today linking autism to children born to a parent with schizophrenia or certain other mental illnesses?

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Well, correlation does not prove causation. Back in the 40's you could correlate polio incidence and ice cream sales - both increased during the summer. but we all know that polio is not caused by ice cream! Statistics, especially biostatistics, is a tricky thing to decipher.
I've been on medications thru all three of my PG's, same ones, which according to my psychiatrist are the only two meds that positively show no signs of causing any developmental problems. Out of those three PG's, one has AS, one has a language disorder and some oppositional problems, and the last has speech and developmental delay. So did my meds cause my kids problems? I tend to doubt it. With the astronomical increase in ASD dx I think that there is something environmental that is largely to blame. As well as some genetic predisposition.
So, while I'm not surprised by the studies results, I'm not too concerned either. We strongly suspect a genetic role in ASD's anyway. Neurological dysfunctions of other types probably have one as well.
Just my 10 cents on it, LOL
Andrea, mom to
Graham
Miles
Anson
Graham
Miles
Anson
I'm a bit confused. I didn't mention correlation at all. I said that I believed there is a strong genetically-related factor to ASD's.
Did you mean to post this to everyone and not just me?
Andrea, mom to
Graham
Miles
Anson
Graham
Miles
Anson
Needless to say, OSM would not let something like this go by unchallenged...
http://onesickmother.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/link-found-betw.html
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
finished the series BTW.
http://onesickmother.typepad.com/my_weblog/
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Well, I too don't doubt the genetic factor in autism. Many of the posts I read here are about different possible genetic links within families. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc with some symptoms or oddities that may be related to autism. I don't think anyone questions that.
However, the article here I believe if I am not mistaken, talks about the direct link between parents mental health (particularly the mother) and autism. That I just don't see. I do know a fair bit of mom's of children with autism who suffer depression after the diagnosis. There maybe some who also had some depression and such before but depression is so common and autism is so common that of course the 2 would co-occur. Love the ice-cream/polio analogy for who ever came up with that!
I don't think I have known many, if any, moms who are schizophenic though and I have known lots and lots of autism moms. It is possible there are some that just don't share that information with me. It is also possible that some mom's have some autistic type traits that could be similar or diagnosed as schizophenia as well but I just don't think it is as rampant as perhaps the article tends to allude.
Also, schizophrenia and autism are actually very similar in many ways and schizophrenia started being diagnosed earlier.
Just my thoughts on that.
As for my family, the only thing on my side is an aunt who was delayed (called mild MR then) that we now think was autistic. She lived in supported living her whole life. I have a brother who is just odd adn had some learning disabilities. My MIL has loads of anxieties and quirks and is one odd duck. But really DH and I did not have any mental health issues prior to the kids. DH a couple years ago (way past birth and diagnosis) did take some meds for depression for a short time but that is it between the 2 of us.
Renee
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