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Cited by 204Child Welfare and AdoptionAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Early adolescent outcomes of institutionally deprived and non‐deprived adoptees. III. Quasi‐autism

Rutter, Michael, Kreppner, Jana, Croft, Carla, Murin, Marianna, Colvert, Emma, Beckett, Celia, Castle, Jenny, Sonuga‐Barke, Edmund·2007·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01792.x
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Abstract

Background: Some young children reared in profoundly depriving institutions have been found to show autistic‐like patterns, but the developmental significance of these features is unknown. Methods: A randomly selected, age‐stratified, sample of 144 children who had experienced an institutional upbringing in Romania and who were adopted by UK families was studied at 4, 6, and 11 years, and compared with a non‐institutionalised sample of 52 domestic adoptees. Twenty‐eight children, all from Romanian institutions, for whom the possibility of quasi‐autism had been raised, were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview‐Revised (ADI‐R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) at the age of 12 years. Results: Sixteen children were found to have a quasi‐autistic pattern; a rate of 9.2% in the Romanian institution‐reared adoptees with an IQ of at least 50 as compared with 0% in the domestic adoptees. There were a further 12 children with some autistic‐like features, but for whom the quasi‐autism designation was not confirmed. The follow‐up of the children showed that a quarter of the children lost their autistic‐like features by 11. Disinhibited attachment and poor peer relationships were also present in over half of the children with quasi‐autism. Conclusions: The findings at age 11/12 years confirmed the reality and clinical significance of the quasi‐autistic patterns seen in over 1 in 10 of the children who experienced profound institutional deprivation. Although there were important similarities with ‘ordinary’ autism, the dissimilarities suggest a different meaning.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01792.x

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  • Social deprivation early in life or other environmental risk factor exposure and the timing of exposure could be relevant and should be specified.

    “For example, social deprivation early in life [65] or other environmental risk factor exposure (e.g., teratogens) and the timing of exposure [66] could be relevant and should be specified.”

    From Subgrouping the Autism Spectrum: Reflections on DSM-5 (2013) · cites this paper as [65]

  • By age 11, a quarter of the Romanian children had "lost" their autistic-like behaviors, with the remaining children demonstrating both similarities and differences to classic ASD.

    “However, by age 11, a quarter of the children had “lost” their autistic-like behaviors, with the remaining children demonstrating both similarities and differences to classic ASD [230].”

    From The contribution of environmental exposure to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (2019) · cites this paper as [230]

  • In the Romanian adoptee study, 16 of 144 children initially raised in Romanian institutions were found to have "quasi-autism" with additional children presenting autistic features, while none of 52 domestic adoptees presented with any signs of autism.

    “Sixteen of the Romanian children were found to have “quasi-autism” with additional children presenting with autistic features, while none of the domestic adoptees presented with any signs of autism.”

    From The contribution of environmental exposure to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (2019) · cites this paper as [230]

  • Despite early extreme deprivation, only a minority of cases developed quasi-autism, with the majority recovering from their early experiences.

    “Importantly, despite their early extreme deprivation, only a minority of cases developed quasi-autism with the majority recovering from their early experiences.”

    From The contribution of environmental exposure to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (2019) · cites this paper as [230]

  • Children raised in institutions are at increased risk for a variety of adverse outcomes, including quasi-autistic patterns of behavior.

    “Children raised in institutions are at increased risk for a variety of adverse outcomes,1 including risk for “quasi-autistic” patterns of behavior.2, 3”

    From Social communication difficulties and autism in previously institutionalized children (2015) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors
Rutter, M., Kreppner, J., Croft, C., Murin, M., Colvert, E., Beckett, C., Castle, J., & Sonuga‐Barke, E.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Hillingdon Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Rutter, Michael
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-09-26
Volume
48
Issue
12
Pages
1200-1207
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01792.x
OpenAlex
W2111427461
Cited by
204
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 13
FWCI
25.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
institutional deprivation, autism spectrum disorder, peer relationships, developmental outcomes, early adolescence, autism diagnosis
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Psychology, Adolescent, Adoption, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Communication, Diagnosis, Differential, Follow-Up Studies, United Kingdom, Humans, Institutionalization, Intelligence Tests, Interpersonal Relations, Intellectual Disability, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychosocial Deprivation, Romania, Sampling Studies, Syndrome, Outcome Assessment, Health Care

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