1. 自閉症是甚麼
  2. 風險因素

風險因素


醫學界普遍認同的自閉症風險因素包括:

  • 男性1
  • 早產兒1
  • 父母懷孕時已屆高齡2
  • 家人, 尤其兄弟姊妹有自閉症3

研究顯示接種疫苗與自閉症沒有明顯關係4

根據西方國家大量的文獻，自閉症患者較常出現以下身體狀況:
兒童:

  • 睡眠問題 5
  • 癲癇症6
  • 腸胃問題7 (新興研究指出自閉症患者常有胃腸問題，有待更針對性的研究)
  • 煩躁症，自我傷害和脾氣暴躁 (temper tantrum) 8
  • 焦慮症 8
  • 專注力失調及過度活躍症 (ADHD) 8
  • 抽動綜合症 (Tic disorder) 和妥瑞症 (Tourette syndrome) 8
  • 對立反抗症 (oppositional defiant disorder) 和行為規範障礙症 (conduct disorder) 8

成年人:
文獻顯示，隨著年齡增長，成年自閉症患者較少精神上的問題，尤其社交恐懼症有明顯減少 8

  • 情緒障礙8
  • 抽動綜合症 (Tic disorder) 和妥瑞症 (Tourette syndrome) 8
  • 專注力失調及過度活躍症 (ADHD) 8

由於缺乏亞洲或華裔人士的自閉症數據，內容皆引述西方文獻。基於種族與文化差異，西方文獻未必能反映華裔自閉症人士的實際情況。

參考文獻:

  1. Kallioinen et al. Developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ 2017, 358: j3514.
  2. Kolevzon et al. Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for autism: a review and integration of findings. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine 2007;161: 326-33.
  3. Palmer et al. Association of sex with recurrence of autism spectrum disorder among siblings. JAMA pediatrics 2017;171:1107-12.
  4. Taylor et al. Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Vaccine 2014; 32: 3623-9.
  5. Cohen et al. The relationship between sleep and behavior in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a review. Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders 2014;6:44.
  6. Frye et al. A review of traditional and novel treatments for seizures in autism spectrum disorder: findings from a systematic review and expert panel. Frontiers in public health 2013;1:31.
  7. Coury et al. Gastrointestinal conditions in children with autism spectrum disorder: developing a research agenda. Pediatrics 2012;130:S160-8.
  8. Howes et al. Autism spectrum disorder: consensus guidelines on assessment, treatment and research from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2018, 32:3-29.