Family mental illness history may impact development in kids

According to a new study from the Yale Child Study Center, children with a sibling diagnosed with autism are more likely to experience developmental issues, if other family members also have neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders.

Researchers discovered that the severity of social and communication issues in siblings of children with autism typically seen in autism rose when they had family members with conditions like schizophrenia or anxiety.

According to the study published in Autism Research on June 19, siblings with family histories of anxiety and intellectual disability showed lower verbal and nonverbal skills and less developed adaptive skills.

Under the leadership of Chawarska, the research group gathered family background data from the parents of 229 younger siblings of individuals diagnosed with autism from March 2006 to May 2022. 

The siblings participated in comprehensive evaluation of social, cognitive, language, and adaptive skills. 

The researchers examined if the developmental outcomes of younger siblings of children with autism were influenced by a family history of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, while taking into account variables like birth year, age, sex assigned at birth, and family demographics.

Previous studies have found that younger siblings of kids with autism display various developmental issues in social, cognitive, language, and adaptive skills.

Symptoms can vary in severity among siblings, covering multiple areas, leading to a diagnosis of autism for some, while others may experience milder symptoms affecting only specific developmental areas. 

In prior studies, the researchers found an elevated prevalence of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in the first, second and third-degree relatives of children with autism. 

Chawarska reported that anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD, speech delays, and intellectual disability were frequently seen in family members.

Even though the exact reasons behind the observed outcomes are unclear, this study indicates that having a family history of certain psychiatric and developmental disorders indicates higher risks in younger siblings.