Personality traits in parents of people with autism - FITZGERALD, MICHAEL (My University, 1999)
PUBLISHED
Objectives: This study set out to explore if there were measurable personality characteristics specific to parents of people with autism. Method: Parents of 12 people with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of autism presented for the study. Each of the people with autism were matched where possible with a counterpart without autism but with a lifelong disability on parameters of age, sex and IQ level. Parents of the 'autism' and 'non-autism' groups were then interviewed in detail using four personality assessment instruments. Scores were tabulated for both mothers and fathers in each group and intergroup comparisons were made. Results: No significant personality profile difference was identifiable between the two parental groups. Conclusions: Personality traits specific to parents of people with autism are not identifiable in this study thus casting doubt on the validity of personality phenotypes as measurable heritability factors in autism.
Keywords: Neuroscience; AUTISM; AUTISM SPECTRUM; Adolescent Psychiatry; Autism; Autism; Autism; Autism; Autism; Autism Genetics; CHILD PSYCHIATRY; COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRY; CONSULTATION LIAISON PSYCHIATRY; CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY; GENERAL HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRY; INFANTILE-AUTISM; LIAISON PSYCHIATRY; Neuropsychiatry; Neuropsychiatry; PERSONALITY; PERSONALITY TRAITS; PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS; PERSONALITY-TRAITS; PSYCHIATRY; Psychiatry; Psychiatry; TRAINEES IN PSYCHIATRY; child and adolescent Psychiatry; neurodevelopmental psychiatry