Showing papers by "Michael Rutter published in 1996"
TL;DR: A partial integration of the causal processes leading to autism requires an integration across different levels of enquiry, and provides a useful strategy for identifying key research questions, the limitations of existing hypotheses, and future research directions that are likely to prove fruitful.
Abstract: Autism constitutes one of the best validated child psychiatric disorders. Empirical research has succeeded in delineating the key clinical phenomena, in demonstrating strong genetic influences on the underlying liability, and in identifying basic cognitive deficits. A range of neurobiological abnormalities has also been found, although the replicability of specific findings has not been high. An understanding of the causal processes leading to autism, and accounting for the marked variability in its manifestations, requires an integration across these different levels of enquiry. Although this is not yet possible, a partial integration provides a useful strategy for identifying key research questions, the limitations of existing hypotheses, and future research directions that are likely to prove fruitful. The research findings for each research level are critically reviewed in order to consider how to move towards an integration across levels.
728 citations
TL;DR: The diagnostic boundaries of the behavioural phenotype for autism were examined in 28 MZ pairs and 20 DZ same-sex twin pairs, where one or both twins had autism.
Abstract: The diagnostic boundaries of the behavioural phenotype for autism were examined in 28 MZ pairs and 20 DZ same-sex twin pairs, where one or both twins had autism. In the non-autistic cotwin (i.e. in twin pairs discordant for autism) it was common to find language impairments in childhood and social deficits persisting into adulthood. Concordance for this broader phenotype was much greater in MZ pairs than DZ pairs, indicating a strong genetic component. Behavioural and cognitive manifestations of autism were compared both within and between MZ twin pairs. The variation was as great within MZ twin pairs as between pairs, suggesting that it does not index genetic heterogeneity (although aetiological heterogeneity probably exists). Current diagnostic practices need re-evaluation.
434 citations
TL;DR: Turning Points: The concept of turning points as discussed by the authors has been used to describe apparent changes in early adult life of psychological life trajectories, changes that have been labelled "turning points".
Abstract: In recent years, several studies have produced data showing apparent changes in early adult life of psychological life trajectories, changes that have been labelled "turning points". The concept, a...
397 citations
354 citations
TL;DR: Bivariate model fitting showed that the covariation between hyperactivity and oppositional/conduct problems in both younger and older boys and girls is almost entirely attributable to genetic factors.
Abstract: Structural equation models were applied to the maternal ratings of 265 MZ and 163 DZ male-male, 347 MZ and 160 DZ female-female, and 262 male-female twin pairs, aged 8-16 years, who participated in the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development (VTSABD). Substantial additive genetic influences and contrast effects were found for hyperactivity, and additive genetic and shared environmental effects or positive comparison effects (particularly for the girls) for oppositional/conduct disturbance. Bivariate model fitting showed that the covariation between hyperactivity and oppositional/conduct problems in both younger and older boys and girls is almost entirely attributable to genetic factors. However, whereas in the younger males and females the same set of genes explain all the variation in hyperactivity and conduct disturbance, in the older cohort at least some of the genetic effects are behavior- and gender-specific.
240 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an overview of work conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry over the past 30 years on childhood depression was presented, including the definition and measurement of major depressive disorder in children.
Abstract: This article presents an overview of work conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry over the past 30 years on childhood depression. The work began with the basic question of definition and measurement. Epidemiological studies showed that depressive symptoms were quite common in children and were a good, if nonspecific, indicator of psychological disturbance. Further work in both epidemiological and clinical samples provided some evidence for the validity of a depressive syndrome. However, this work also showed that these depressive syndromes represented a heterogeneous group of phenomena. The validity of major depressive disorder in children was therefore tested further in longitudinal and family-genetic studies. These studies supported the validity of the concept but confirmed that there was heterogeneity in respect to both developmental stage at the time of onset and comorbidity with conduct disorder. We concluded that there are probably several different kinds of depressive syndromes in children. Some are strongly linked with depressive disorders in adulthood, but others are probably better conceptualized as part of another psychopathological problem altogether.
223 citations
TL;DR: Reading problems were associated with some increases in disruptive behaviour in their teens in girls, and increased risks of juvenile offending among specifically retarded-reading boys seemed associated with poor school attendance, rather than reading difficulties per se.
Abstract: Samples of poor and normal readers were followed through adolescence and into early adulthood to assess continuities in the comorbidity between reading difficulties and disruptive behaviour problems. Reading-disabled boys showed high rates of inattentiveness in middle childhood, but no excess of teacher-rated behaviour problems at age 14 and no elevated rates of aggression, antisocial personality disorder or officially recorded offending in early adulthood. Increased risks of juvenile offending among specifically retarded-reading boys seemed associated with poor school attendance, rather than reading difficulties per se. Reading problems were associated with some increases in disruptive behaviour in their teens in girls.
173 citations
TL;DR: It is indicated that about one-third of children with PDD have macrocephaly based on current percentile charts; this rate was significantly higher than in children with language disorder alone and suggests that PDD is sometimes associated with abnormal physical development.
Abstract: Recent studies have found that an unexpectedly large proportion of autistic children have large heads. Anthropometric measures of consecutive clinic attenders with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), other psychiatric or language disorders were analysed. Similar data were obtained from two schools for language disordered children. These data, combined with those from previous studies, indicate that about one-third of children with PDD have macrocephaly based on current percentile charts; this rate was significantly higher than in children with language disorder alone. The finding was not a consequence of recognizable medical disorders and suggests that PDD is sometimes associated with abnormal physical development.
170 citations
TL;DR: Data is presented indicating that when symptoms have lasted longer than around 3 months, the month of onset usually cannot be accurately reported, while with symptoms that have lasted a year or more, the year of onset is usually uncertain.
Abstract: Dates of onset of psychiatric symptoms are required in determining whether diagnostic criteria are met for a number of disorders and for a variety of research questions. However, little attention has been paid to the precision and reliability of their recall by parents and children. We present data from two studies indicating that when symptoms have lasted longer than around 3 months, the month of onset usually cannot be accurately reported, while with symptoms that have lasted a year or more, the year of onset is usually uncertain. The implications of these findings for diagnosis and research are discussed.
132 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that research into autism has a priority in the broader field of developmental psychopathology because it carries the promise of throwing light on causal mechanisms that apply beyond the syndrome of autism.
Abstract: Research prospects and priorities in the field of autism are discussed with respect to (a) diagnosis, classification, and epidemiology; (b) clinical research; (c) neuropsychological research; (d) genetics; (e) structural and functional brain imaging; (f) postmortem studies; (g) other biological research; and (h) treatment research. Also, it is argued that research into autism has a priority in the broader field of developmental psychopathology because it carries the promise of throwing light on causal mechanisms that apply beyond the syndrome of autism.
107 citations
TL;DR: The paper delivered by Professor Rutter at the Berzelius Symposium was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1995, 91:73-95 and this article provides an abbreviated, updated version.
Abstract: Prof. M. Rutter (~) MRC Child Psychiatry Unit Institute of Psychiatry De Crespigny Park Denmark Hill London SE5 8AF, England Editor 's introduction The paper delivered by Professor Rutter at the Berzelius Symposium was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1995, 91:73-95. This article provides an abbreviated, updated version.
TL;DR: In this paper, the challenges for integrating alternative models of risk are discussed, with special references to research on genetic and environmental influences on developmental psychopathology, and several general issues in research are highlighted, including sample characteristics, measurement strategies, specificity of risk factors and risk mechanisms, categorical vs. dimensional approaches to samples and measures.
Abstract: This commentary focuses on several issues concerning research on risk mechanisms that are raised in this special issue. First, we focus on what marks this special issue as distinctive in the ways in which risk research is conducted. Second, several general issues in research are highlighted, including sample characteristics, measurement strategies, specificity of risk factors and risk mechanisms, categorical vs. dimensional approaches to samples and measures, and definitions of development and transitions. Third, the challenges for integrating alternative models of risk are discussed, with special references to research on genetic and environmental influences on developmental psychopathology.
TL;DR: The most important genetic advances in the field of mental retardation include the discovery of the novel genetic mechanism responsible for the Fragile X syndrome, and the imprinting involved in the Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes, but there have also been advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of Down syndrome and phenylketonuria.
Abstract: The most important genetic advances in the field of mental retardation include the discovery of the novel genetic mechanism responsible for the Fragile X syndrome, and the imprinting involved in the Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes, but there have also been advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of Down syndrome and phenylketonuria. Genetic defects (both single gene Mendelizing disorders and cytogenetic abnormalities) are involved in a substantial proportion of cases of mild as well as severe mental retardation, indicating that the previous equating of severe mental retardation with pathology, and of mild retardation with normal variation, is a misleading over-simplication. Within the group in which no pathological cause can be detected, behaviour genetic studies indicate that genetic influences are important, but that their interplay with environmental factors, which are also important, is at present poorly understood. Research into the joint action of genetic and environmental influences in this group will be an important research area in the future.
TL;DR: The Rutter scales as mentioned in this paper are a pair of short questionnaires for collecting information from parents and teachers about the behaviour of children aged about nine to thirteen years, focusing on emotional and conduct disorders and were designed as screening instruments for epidemiological research.
Abstract: The Rutter scales are a pair of short questionnaires for collecting information from parents and teachers about the behaviour of children aged about nine to thirteen years. They focus on emotional and conduct disorders and were designed as screening instruments for epidemiological research. Over the last 25 years they have been used in over 80 studies of various kinds around the world, their psychometric properties have been reported in great detail, and the original scales have been adapted for use with younger children and extended to include items about prosocial behaviours. In this article we summarize the evidence that has accumulated about the scales, provide some guidelines for researchers considering using the scales, and consider some applications for them in the future.
01 Jan 1996
TL;DR: This paper applied latent class analytic methods to multivariate categorical data on 389 same-sex male twins, aged 11 to 16 from the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioural Development (VTSABD).
Abstract: The examination of heterogeneity in antisocial behaviour was accomplished by applying latent class analytic methods to multivariate categorical data on 389 same-sex male twins, aged 11 to 16 from the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioural Development (VTSABD). The data included multiple measures of oppositional and conduct disorder, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, impulsivity, reading disability and anxiety from mother, teacher, and child report from both questionnaire and interview (child and adult psychiatric assessment; CAPA). A latent four-class model provided a good fit to the data and yielded four phenotypically and aetiologically distinct latent classes: (1) a non-symptomatic class influenced by both additive genetic and shared environmental factors; (2) a hyperactivity-conduct disturbance class accounted for by both additive and non-additive genetic effects; (3) a 'pure' conduct disturbance class with a very strong shared environmental component; and (4) a multisymptomatic class explained entirely by the additive effect of the genes. Further characterization of these four latent classes by age of the child and parental psychiatric history is also shown.
TL;DR: The etiology of individual differences in oral reading performance, the Slosson Oral Reading Test (SORT), for which biometrical analyses have not been reported in the literature previously is reported.
Abstract: Measures of reading achievement and verbal ability have been shown to be heritable. Additionally, recent evidence has been suggestive of a major gene effect on reading disability and for problem reading in a sample of normal readers. We report on the etiology of individual differences in oral reading performance, the Slosson Oral Reading Test (SORT), for which biometrical analyses have not been reported in the literature previously. Oral reading performance was measured in a large population-based sample of twins of the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development. Biometrical analyses of the SORT suggested that, in both males and females, 69% of the phenotypic variation was due to heritable influences and 13% of the variation due to shared environmental effects. While the relative importance of genetic and environmental influences is equivalent for males and females, males showed greater phenotypic variability than females.
TL;DR: Burack et al. as discussed by the authors found that mild mental retardation runs in families and that there is a much increased recurrence risk if either a parent or a sib has mental disorders.
Abstract: It has long been known that mild mental retardation (meaning that associated with an IQ in the 50–69 range) shows a strong tendency to run in families and that there is a much increased recurrence risk if either a parent or a sib has mental retardation. For example, Reed & Reed (1965) found that, having had one retarded child, the chance of a further retarded child was 6% if both parents and their sibs were ‘normal’, 13% if both parents were normal but one had a retarded sib, 20% if one parent was retarded, and 42% if both were retarded. A somewhat similar gradient was found in the more recent study by Bundey, Thake & Todd (1989). The appreciation that mild mental retardation was so strongly familial had led Lewis (1933) some years earlier to refer to it as ’subcultural‘ (meaning that it was a normal variation), in order to differentiate it from severe mental retardation, which was viewed as ‘pathological’. Penrose (1938, 1963) made the same classificatory distinction and the utility of a two-group approach became generally accepted (Burack, 1990).
TL;DR: Fergusson et al. as discussed by the authors discuss the relationship between alcohol misuse and juvenile offending and suggest that alcohol misuse is associated with crime and delinquency in New Zealand adolescents, and that crime causes delinquent behaviour.
Abstract: Note: This publication responds to the article by D.M Fergusson et al. discussing alcohol misuse and juvenile offending. Fergusson, D.M., Lynskey, M.T., & Horwood, L.J. (1996, April). Alcohol Misuse and Juvenile Offending in Adolescence. Addiction, 91(4), 506-510. (VioLit Record Number 14980) Alcohol Use Effects Juvenile Offender Juvenile Crime Juvenile Delinquency Substance Use Effects Crime Causes Delinquency Causes Foreign Countries New Zealand Juvenile Substance Use Alcohol Related Crime Juvenile Violence Alcohol Related Violence Violence Causes Property Crime Peer Risk Factors Family Risk Factors Individual Risk Factors Cohort Studies Commentary 11-99