Risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring with parental schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

The effect of parental schizophrenia on the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in offspring has been evaluated in previous studies. However, to our knowledge, no systematic review and meta-analysis have assessed this association. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the risk of ASD in offspring with parental schizophrenia.

Methods

The electronic databases EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus were systematically searched. We administered the Newcastle Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS) to assess the quality of all selected studies. Combined effect values, as well as their 95% confidence intervals (CI), were calculated. We evaluated heterogeneity using Q and I² statistics. The publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot and Egger’s regression test. In addition, a leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the finding.

Results

A total of 12 observational studies (10 cohorts and two case-control) were included. Our study found a high risk of ASD in offspring exposed to parental schizophrenia [RR = 2.38 (CI%95 2.0–2.83)]. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of our main analysis.

Conclusion

The risk of ASD is considerably higher in offspring with parental schizophrenia. Our findings may suggest a shared pathologic pathway between schizophrenia and ASD.

Keywords:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• meta-analysis
• schizophrenia
• systematic review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Monir Shayestehfar

Monir Shayestehfar is a PhD candidate in neuroscience in Iran University of medical sciences. Besides, she has been studying and learning social neuroscience and its special application in neuro-developmental disorders particularly autism spectrum disorders (ASD) since 10 years ago in Neuroscience Institute, Sports Medicine Research Center.

Amin Nakhostin-Ansari

Amin Nakhostin-Ansari, MD, MPH, is a researcher at Sports Medicine Research Center. His researches mainly focus on public health issues.

Amirhossein Memari

Amirhossein Memari is a neuroscience professor in TUMS. His research interests are focused on neurodevelopmental disorders and socioemotional characteristics. He has published in several prestigious journals such as JADD, Paediatric Obesity and Research in Developmental Disabilities. The findings of his research were implemented in the autism textbook of ‘comprehensive guide to autism’.

Seyed Hossein Hosseini Asl

Seyed Hossein Hosseini-Asl was admitted to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, in 2019 at the field of medicine. His researches mainly focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Faezeh Faghihi

Faezeh Faghihi is an associate professor in developmental biology in Iran university of medical sciences (Cellular and molecular research center). She has been searching and working on molecular aspects of schizophrenia from 5 years ago.