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The B road A utism P henotype Q uestionnaire: Prevalence and Diagnostic Classification
Author(s) -
Sasson Noah J.,
Lam Kristen S. L.,
Childress Debra,
Parlier Morgan,
Daniels Julie L.,
Piven Joseph
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
autism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.656
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1939-3806
pISSN - 1939-3792
DOI - 10.1002/aur.1272
Subject(s) - autism , population , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , developmental psychology , environmental health
The B road A utism P henotype Q uestionnaire ( BAPQ ) was administered to a large community‐based sample of biological parents of children with autism ( PCAs ) and comparison parents ( CPs ) ( n = 1,692). Exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency parameters confirmed a robust three‐factor structure of the BAPQ , corresponding to the proposed aloof, pragmatic language and rigidity subscales. Based upon the distribution of B road A utism P henotype ( BAP ) features in the general population, new normative cutoff values for BAPQ subscales were established that provide increased specificity relative to those previously reported, and thus enhance the utility of the BAPQ for diagnostically classifying the BAP . These cutoffs were also used to estimate prevalence of the BAP and its three components, with rates ranging between 14–23% for PCAs and between 5–9% for CPs . Analysis of patterns of BAP characteristics within family members revealed that BAP features were more likely to co‐occur in PCAs relative to CPs . Collectively, these findings extend the utility of the BAPQ and provide additional evidence that it is an efficient and reliable tool for disaggregating the heterogeneity of autism through the identification of meaningful subgroups of parents. Autism Res 2013, 6: 134–143. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.