在过去 10 年中,检测到ASD的患病率显著增加。[8]Fombonne E. The prevalence of autism. JAMA. 2003;289:87-89.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12503982?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Baird G, Simonoff E, Pickles A, et al. Prevalence of disorders of the autistic spectrum in a population cohort of children in South Thames: the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP). Lancet. 2006;368:210-215.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16844490?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders: autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 14 sites, United States, 2002. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2007;56:12-28.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5601a2.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17287715?tool=bestpractice.com数据表明,ASD 诊断率上升伴随着其他神经发育精神障碍患病率的下降,更准确的临床诊断是检测患病率升高的原因。[11]Shattuck PT. Diagnostic substitution and changing autism prevalence. Pediatrics. 2006;117:1438-1439.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16585346?tool=bestpractice.com最近的数据表明,至少有 1% 的儿童患有 ASD;一些研究报告中的患病率约为 2%。[12]Kim YS, Leventhal BL, Koh YJ, et al. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a total population sample. Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168:904-912.http://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101532http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21558103?tool=bestpractice.com大约 50% 的 ASD 患儿有智力障碍。[9]Baird G, Simonoff E, Pickles A, et al. Prevalence of disorders of the autistic spectrum in a population cohort of children in South Thames: the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP). Lancet. 2006;368:210-215.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16844490?tool=bestpractice.com