Common Underlying Factors Found In Autism, Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder

New research led by a medical geneticist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine points to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) among individuals whose parents or siblings have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

The findings were based on a case-control study using population registers in Sweden and Israel, and the degree to which these three disorders share a basis in causation "has important implications for clinicians, researchers and those affected by the disorders," according to a report of the research published online in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

"The results were very consistent in large samples from several different countries and lead us to believe that autism and schizophrenia are more similar than we had thought... READ MORE >>

Our findings suggest that ASD, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share etiologic risk factors," the authors state. "We suggest that future research could usefully attempt to discern risk factors common to these disorders."

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net