Researchers response to article on autism
Paul McDonnell, PhD
Globe and Mail
Article originally published on October 17, 2003

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the letter by Gabor Maté entitled, "Autism is the child of social disconnection," published on Friday, October 17th, 2003. This author argues that autism is increasing at an alarming rate and speculates on the cause of this increase. Gabor Maté argues that the lack of an adequate nurturing environment heavily influences the chemistry of brain growth and interconnections of neurons and that a broad social change has taken place by which we are losing the context of strong emotional relationships in our communities and neighborhoods. The result is that the nurturing influences necessary for healthy brain development are disappearing from our lives. I would like to comment on these points.

First, there is no good evidence that the incidence of autism has increased over the past few years. In fact, the increase in incidence is closely correlated with changes in the diagnostic categories described in the codes provided by ICD and DSM. It also correlates with increased publicity on this disorder. Let us be clear. Children with autism have always been there but now they have more accurate diagnoses. It is an enormous problem (much bigger than previously believed) for which we now have developed practical forms of intervention. These evidence-based forms of treatment are now available but tragically not always accessible.

Matô cites a study done in California as support. The major study done at the UC Davis Medical School in 2002 is suspect and has received a great deal of criticism. It ignores certain critical issues such as the effects of immigration. This author postulates that broad social factors cause autism (in interaction with genetic information) but does not explain what these are in specific terms or how they could account for the apparent rapid rise in incidence illustrated in the California study.

The author also refers to the "attachment village" and says that the connections in children's brains are not as developed as they ought to be, "because the social connections on which they depend have been greatly weakened." Aside from the fact that there is no evidence for that view, the real danger here is that the argument does implicate the attachment relationship between parents and their children despite the author's attempt to blame "broad" social factors. However, these so-called "broad social factors" must, in the end, influence the children through the mediation of the parents. It boils down to the old "refrigerator mother" concept that has been so soundly refuted. There is research that shows that children living with abusive and neglectful parents do not become autistic. In addition, we know that autism is more likely to occur in children with other medical conditions, such as tuberous sclerosis. In fact, there is overwhelming psychological, genetic, and neurological evidence showing that the attachment characteristics of particular families do not cause autism.

I have a private practice in child psychology and I regularly see many families with a child with autism or a related disorder. If one had any doubts about the supportive connections that exist within most families of children with autism, you only have to observe the stamina of these families in the face of tremendous stresses, their devotion in seeking services, their willingness to sacrifice everything in their lives for their child, their commitment to helping other families through parent support groups and organizations, and their visible love and affection for their children. This characterization is by far the most typical family profile.

Paul M. McDonnell, Ph.D.
Psychologist (NB)
Paul M. McDonnell, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of New Brunswick
and Psychologist (NB)
56 Lansdowne Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 1T2
Ph: (506)457-0826
Fax: (506)455-0744
e-mail: pmm@unb.ca