Editing Asperger syndrome (section)

== Epidemiology ==
{{main|Epidemiology of autism}}

Frequency estimates vary enormously. In 2015, it was estimated that 37.2 million people globally are affected.<ref name=GBD2015Pre /> A 2003 review of [[epidemiological studies]] of children found autism rates ranging from 0.03 to 4.84 per 1,000, with the ratio of autism to Asperger syndrome ranging from 1.5:1 to 16:1;<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fombonne E, Tidmarsh L | title = Epidemiologic data on Asperger disorder | journal = Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America | volume = 12 | issue = 1 | pages = 15–21, v–vi | date = January 2003 | pmid = 12512396 | doi = 10.1016/S1056-4993(02)00050-0}}</ref> combining the geometric mean ratio of 5:1 with a conservative prevalence estimate for autism of 1.3 per 1,000 suggests indirectly that the prevalence of AS might be around 0.26 per 1,000.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Epidemiological surveys of pervasive developmental disorders| vauthors = Fombonne E |pages=33–68|title=Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders|edition=2nd|veditors=Volkmar FR|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0-521-54957-8}}</ref> Part of the variance in estimates arises from differences in diagnostic criteria. For example, a relatively small 2007 study of 5,484 eight-year-old children in Finland found 2.9 children per 1,000 met the ICD-10 criteria for an AS diagnosis, 2.7 per 1,000 for Gillberg and Gillberg criteria, 2.5 for DSM-IV, 1.6 for Szatmari ''et al.'', and 4.3 per 1,000 for the union of the four criteria. Boys seem to be more likely to have AS than girls; estimates of the sex ratio range from 1.6:1 to 4:1, using the Gillberg and Gillberg criteria.<ref name=Mattila /> Females with autism spectrum disorders may be underdiagnosed.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Galanopoulos A, Robertson D, Woodhouse E | title = The assessment of autism spectrum disorders in adults |journal=Advances in Autism |date=4 January 2016 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=31–40 |doi=10.1108/AIA-09-2015-0017}}</ref>

=== Comorbidities ===
{{Main|Conditions comorbid to autism spectrum disorders}}

Anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder are the most common conditions seen at the same time; [[comorbidity]] of these in persons with AS is estimated at 65%.<ref name=McPart2006 /> Reports have associated AS with [[medical conditions]] such as [[aminoaciduria]] and [[ligamentous laxity]], but these have been case reports or small studies and no factors have been associated with AS across studies.<ref name="McPart2006" /> One study of males with AS found an increased rate of [[epilepsy]] and a high rate (51%) of [[nonverbal learning disorder]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cederlund M, Gillberg C | title = One hundred males with Asperger syndrome: a clinical study of background and associated factors | journal = Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology | volume = 46 | issue = 10 | pages = 652–60 | date = October 2004 | pmid = 15473168 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2004.tb00977.x | s2cid = 5931902| doi-access = free }}</ref> AS is associated with [[tic]]s, [[Tourette syndrome]] and [[bipolar disorder]]. The repetitive behaviors of AS have many similarities with the symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder and [[obsessive–compulsive personality disorder]],<ref name="Gillberg&Billstedt2000"/> and 26% of a sample of young adults with AS were found to meet the criteria for [[schizoid personality disorder]] (which is characterised by severe social seclusion and emotional detachment), more than any other personality disorder in the sample.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lugnegård T, Hallerbäck MU, Gillberg C | title = Personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders: what are the connections? | journal = Comprehensive Psychiatry | volume = 53 | issue = 4 | pages = 333–40 | date = May 2012 | pmid = 21821235 | doi = 10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.05.014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tantam D | title = Lifelong eccentricity and social isolation. II: Asperger's syndrome or schizoid personality disorder? | journal = The British Journal of Psychiatry | volume = 153 | pages = 783–91 | date = December 1988 | issue = 6 | pmid = 3256377 | doi = 10.1192/bjp.153.6.783| s2cid = 39433805 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders: Personality Disorders and Addiction | vauthors = Ekleberry SC |publisher=Routledge|year=2008|isbn=978-0789036933|pages=31–32|chapter=Cluster A – Schizoid Personality Disorder and Substance Use Disorders|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5HY1xcfjEcC&pg=PA31}}</ref> However many of these studies are based on [[sampling bias|clinical samples]] or lack standardized measures; nonetheless, comorbid conditions are relatively common.<ref name="Woodbury-Smith" />

=== Correlated characteristics ===
Research [[Autism and LGBT identities|indicates that individuals with Aspergers]] have significantly higher rates of [[LGBT community|LGBT identities]] and feelings{{What|date=March 2025}} than the general population.<ref name="Graham Holmes-2022">{{cite journal | vauthors = Graham Holmes L, Ames JL, Massolo ML, Nunez DM, Croen LA | title = Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Health Care of Autistic People | journal = Pediatrics | volume = 149 | issue = Suppl 4 | pages = e2020049437J | date = April 2022 | pmid = 35363286 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2020-049437J | publisher = [[American Academy of Pediatrics]] | quote = A substantial proportion of autistic adolescents and adults are LGBTQIA+. Autistic people are more likely to be transgender or gender nonconforming compared with non-autistic people, and findings from a recent autism registry study suggest that among autistic people able to self-report on a survey, up to 18% of men and 43% of women may be sexual minorities. | doi-access = free }}</ref> They are also significantly more likely to be [[Nontheism|non-theistic]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Norenzayan A, Gervais WM, Trzesniewski KH | title = Mentalizing deficits constrain belief in a personal God | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 7 | issue = 5 | pages = e36880 | date = 2012 | pmid = 22666332 | pmc = 3364254 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0036880 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2012PLoSO...736880N }}</ref>