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Estimating the prevalence of autism spectrum conditions in adults: extending the 2007 adult psychiatric morbidity survey
- Authors:
- BRUGHA T., et al
- Publisher:
- NHS Information Centre
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 31p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report extends the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. The original data has been combined with data from a new study of the prevalence of autism among adults with learning disabilities living in private households and communal care establishments in Leicestershire, Lambeth and Sheffield. For this latter study, 290 adults were recruited resulting in 83 interviews with those living in private households. Sixty four per cent of communal care establishments approached took part in the study leading to 207 interviews. The overall prevalence of autism from the combined data was 1.1 per cent. The prevalence of autism was higher in men (2.0 per cent) than women (0.3 per cent). The learning disability study demonstrated that the prevalence of autism increased with greater severity of learning disability/lower verbal IQ. Sex differences were less marked in adults with learning disabilities compared with the general population. The estimated prevalence of autism changed very little when the data were re-analysed to take into account that the prevalence of autism might be higher or lower in other settings, such as prisons. This study has demonstrated that autism is common among people with a learning disability. Taking this into account gives an estimated overall prevalence of autism in England of 1.1 per cent; compared with a previous estimate of 1.0 per cent in the APMS (2007).