Journal article
No association between early gastrointestinal problems and autistic-like traits in the general population
AJO Whitehouse, M Maybery, JA Wray, M Hickey
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2011
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether gastrointestinal problems in early childhood relate to autistic-like traits in a general population sample. Method: The parents of 804 children (442 females; 362 males) reported at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year follow-ups whether their child had been taken to a hospital, general practitioner, or health clinic for any of five gastrointestinal symptoms: (1) constipation; (2) diarrhoea; (3) abdominal bloating, discomfort, or irritability; (4) gastro-oesophageal reflux or vomiting; and (5) feeding issues or food selectivity. Parents also reported whether their child had received the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination. Autistic-like traits were me..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the National Health and Medical Research Council for their long-term contribution to funding the study over the last 20 years. Core management of the Raine study has been funded by the University of Western Australia, the University of Western Australia Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the Raine Medical Research Foundation, the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, and the Women's and Infants Research Foundation. The 2- and 10-year follow-up was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Raine Medical Research Foundation. These funders had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The authors are extremely grateful to the study participants and their families as well as the Raine Study team for cohort coordination and data collection.