Brief report: Asperger's syndrome and sibling birth order

J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Apr;43(4):973-7. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1620-y.

Abstract

Prior investigations suggest that birth order position may be associated with the risk for developing a pervasive developmental disorder. This retrospective chart review examined the birth order status of 29 psychiatrically-referred patients with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Eighty-six percent of the subjects were first born. The finding was statistically significant when compared to an expected random distribution of AS subjects χ(2) (1, N = 29) = 9.18, p < 0.01. The reasons for such an association are unclear though birth stoppage, obstetric complications, and immunological mechanisms may play a role.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asperger Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Asperger Syndrome / etiology*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology
  • Birth Order*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obstetric Labor Complications / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Siblings
  • Young Adult