Report to the Legislature on the Principal Findings from the Epidemiology of Autism in California: A Comprehensive Pilot Study

by Byrd, Robert S.

• ISBN13: 9780756728434
• ISBN10: 0756728436
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: DIANE PUBLISHING CO

Table of Contents

Executive Summary	2	(4)
Background	6	(1)
What is autism?	6	(1)
History of the Regional Center System in California	7	(1)
Collection of Information in the Regional Center System	7	(1)
The March 1999 DDS Report to the State Legislature	8	(1)
Legislation Authorizing This Study	9	(1)
Review of research on the causes of autism and other current issues	10	(4)
Epidemiology of Autism	10	(2)
Implications of Current Understanding About Autism in the Context of the Current Study	12	(2)
Aims of the Study	14	(1)
Scientific Advisory Panel	14	(1)
Methods	15	(4)
Methods for Study Aim 1: Change in diagnostic criteria associated with CDER status 1 autism	15	(1)
Methods for Study Aim 2: Proportion of children with DSM-IV autism classified as having mental retardation	15	(1)
Methods for Study Aim 3: Change in in-migration of children with autism that accounts for increased number of cases of CDER status 1 autism	16	(1)
Methods for Study Aim 4: Change in characteristics of children with CDER status 1 autism over time	17	(1)
Methods for Study Aim 5: Determination of what families believe to be the cause of autism in their child and whether this has changed in two age cohorts	17	(1)
Methods for Study Aim 6: Determination if vaccination with MMR increases the recurrence rate of autism in subsequent (younger) siblings	18	(1)
Recruitment and Enrollment Procedures	19	(2)
How we contacted families and obtained informed consent to participate	19	(1)
Chart abstraction	20	(1)
Specific procedures for families of children with autism	20	(1)
Specific procedures for families with children with mental retardation	21	(1)
Validating Study Methods and Procedures	21	(1)
Statistical Analysis	22	(1)
Recruitment and Enrollment	23	(1)
Study Aim 1 Results	24	(2)
Study Aim 2 Results	26	(2)
Study Aim 3 Results	28	(1)
Study Aim 4 Results	29	(8)
Study Aim 5 Results	37	(2)
Study Aim 6 Results	39	(1)
Conclusion	40	(3)
Appendices	43	(23)
Acknowledgments	66	(1)
References	67