Premigration social adversity and autism spectrum disorder
Natacha Augereau,
Ines Lagdas,
Solenn Kermarrec,
Ludovic Gicquel,
Virginie Martin,
Jean Xavier,
David Cohen,
Michel Bouvet,
Anne-Catherine Rolland,
Sylvie Tordjman
Affiliations
Natacha Augereau
Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent de Rennes (PHUPEA), Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier (CHGR) and Université de Rennes 1, France
Ines Lagdas
School of Medicine of Rabat, University of Rabat, Marrocco; and PHUPEA, CHGR and Université de Rennes 1, France
Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Centre Hospitalier Henri Laborit and Université de Poitiers, Unité de Recherche Clinique, CAPS, Poitiers, France
Virginie Martin
Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Centre Hospitalier Henri Laborit; and Université de Poitiers, Unité de Recherche Clinique, CAPS, France
Jean Xavier
Centre Hospitalier Spécialisé Henri Laborit, Poitiers; and CNRS UMR 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l'Apprentissage, Poitiers, France
David Cohen
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, AP-HP, GH Pitié-Salpétrière, CNRS FRE 2987, University Pierre and Marie Curie, France
Michel Bouvet
Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent de Reims, Pôle Femme-Parents-Enfant, France
Anne-Catherine Rolland
Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent de Reims, Pôle Femme-Parents-Enfant, France
Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent (PHUPEA), Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier (CHGR) and Université de Rennes 1; and Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center (INCC), CNRS UMR 8002 and Université de Paris, France
BackgroundSeveral studies suggest significant relationships between migration and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but there are discrepant results. Given that no studies to date have included a pathological control group, the specificity of the results in ASD can be questioned.AimsTo compare the migration experience (premigration, migratory trip, postmigration) in ASD and non-ASD pathological control groups, and study the relationships between migration and autism severity.MethodParents’ and grandparents’ migrant status was compared in 30 prepubertal boys with ASD and 30 prepubertal boys without ASD but with language disorders, using a questionnaire including Human Development Index (HDI)/Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) of native countries. Autism severity was assessed using the Child Autism Rating Scale, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised scales.ResultsThe parents’ and grandparents’ migrant status frequency did not differ between ASD and control groups and was not associated with autism severity. The HDI/IHDI values of native countries were significantly lower for parents and grandparents of children with ASD compared with the controls, especially for paternal grandparents. Furthermore, HDI/IDHI levels from the paternal line (father and especially paternal grandparents) were significantly negatively correlated with autism severity, particularly for social interaction impairments.ConclusionsIn this study, parents’ and/or grandparents’ migrant status did not discriminate ASD and pathological control groups and did not contribute either to autism severity. However, the HDI/IHDI results suggest that social adversity-related stress experienced in native countries, especially by paternal grandparents, is potentially a traumatic experience that may play a role in ASD development. A ‘premigration theory of autism’ is then proposed.
