The Broader Autism Phenotype As a Predictor for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Background: The broader autism phenotype (BAP) is a milder expression of the personality and language impairments seen in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD; Hurley, Losh, Parlier, Reznick, Piven, 2007). It is well established that BAP is present in parents of children with ASD at a higher rate than in parents of typically developing children (Hurley et al., 2007). However, the relationship between parents exhibiting BAP and the presentation of their child's autistic features is unclear.

Objectives: This study seeks to examine the relationship between parents with elevated BAP and the severity of symptoms in their child.  We predict that the Broader Autism Phenotype Questionnaire & Social Responsiveness Scale will be significantly correlated with the Calibrated Severity Score.

Methods: Approximately 450 families with at least one child clinically diagnosed with ASD have been enrolled in our study.  A comprehensive battery was used to assess the cognitive and social functioning of the children with ASD. Diagnostic information was collected through direct assessment and parent report measures. Children with a diagnosis of ASD were administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a standardized semi-structured assessment used to evaluate and diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders.  The ADOS is used to confirm diagnosis and used to generate a Calibrated Severity Score (CSS). Parents completed two questionnaires aimed at measuring the broader autism phenotype: the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) about themselves and the Social Responsiveness Scale-Adult Research Version (SRS-ARV) about their spouse. 

Results: Preliminary analyses indicate that 52 of 902 (5.7%) parents had either elevated BAPQ or SRS-ARV scores.   Mothers’ and Father’s SRS scores were significantly correlated (P=.001), while their BAPQ scores were not found to be correlated to each other. Mothers’ BAPQ scores were significantly correlated with the child’s Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) on the ADOS when controlling for the fathers’ BAPQ scores. 

Conclusions: We are currently examining the data further by running a regression analysis to understand better how these parental questionnaires predict CSS in children. We predict that parents with higher BAPQ and SRS scores will have children with higher CSS.  This will help to better understand the relationship between the broader autism phenotype and autism spectrum disorders.  It remains unclear whether elevated BAPQ and SRS scores were contingent upon the challenges of raising a child with an ASD or if they were previously elevated prior to having an autistic child. Future research could examine if elevated BAPQ & SRS scores were related specifically to communication, reciprocal social interaction or restricted and repetitive behaviors of Autism Spectrum Disorders .