BAP Broader Autistic Phenotype

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can someone explain what this means?

I think I am in favor of it.

Dr. Jane Charles on BAP

From here.

I didn't read the whole thing, in part because they start off pissing my off by referring to "people who are a little cooky". They are using the term 'phenotype' which is a genetic term (the speaker is a geneticist) and they are referring to people who are autistic because they inherited the genes.

Whether autism is inherited or not is not yet known, although it does seem to run in some families. They have determined that those of us on the spectrum (OTS as I call it) do have different brain development.

I think they are trying to say that using the term "Broader Autistic Phenotype" could be used for people who come from families that have autistics, but a person doesn't meet the diagnostic criteria for autism/asperger's.

I know such people, and I refer to them as having aspie 'traits'.

phenotype is not strictly used by geneticists... just refers to displayed behaviors in this case... it's moot point anyway.

aylissa,

As you said, BAP is found amongst family members of those with Autistic Disorder; parents, siblings and relatives. It's Autism, without the negatives (in other words, they can adapt to society in a more "normal" way). BAP comes under PDD-NOS.

I'm guessing it's found amongst the relatives of those with Asperger's too if Autism and Asperger's are related (which they are, as individuals with Asperger's can pass on Autistic Disorder to their offspring at a far greater rate than the normal population).

BAP doesn't fall under PDD-NOS. Technically, by definition, it shouldn't fall under any of the official autistic labels. It's used to refer to traits which occur in undiagnosable individuals, traits which are often associated with the autism spectrum. Such as social awkwardness, certain types of cognitive processing, etc.

It is most often used to refer to family members of an autistic person when they display autistic traits but the traits are insufficient to warrant a diagnosis according to the current criteria. The reason it has largely been used for family members as opposed to just anyone who expresses some autistic traits is because family members have been the ones to take part in the BAP research due to their relation to said autistic family member. It's the entire reason interest in BAP arose, because family members of autistics showed similar traits despite not fulfilling the current criteria for dx. That doesn't mean that BAP can't be used for anyone who shows autistic-like traits, it's just not as common. Social traits in BAPs seem to have received the most research attention.

And, yes, BAPs can have difficulties too. Just because the DSM doesn't think they're diagnosable, doesn't necessarily make life easy.

Not everyone recognizes it, but it does come under PDD-NOS in some institutions (as there's no set definition of labels other than what is listed in the DSM-IV-TR under PDD-NOS):

I am very interested in the subject of BAP. People with BAP are on the borderlands of autism and whether or not they are autistic is a matter of differing opinions. If autistic people are only those diagnosable with autism then BAPs are not autistic. If people with autistic traits are autistic, then BAPs are autistic. I consider them to be autistic.

I don't see that quoted under DSM-IV-TR. Are you reading from the expanded version?

In any case, at least in current day terminology, BAP is not used in research for anything which falls under PDD/ASD. If PDD-NOS criteria are met, that is what is used, not BAP.

From a biological and genetic standpoint (as opposed to clinical) one would have to consider BAPs as autistics. So, yes, I agree with you. It is only the clinical realm and the concept of "pathology" which has differentiated between the two.

My dad & sister probably have this, they have autistic traits while i have an autistic disorder(AS)

I've noticed there seems to be two groups which I'm going to call the Includers and the Excluders. The Excluders are those who closely follow the diagnostic criteria for ASDs. If one does not meet one of the criteria then one is not autistic. Anyone else is simply socially awkward, introverted, anti-social, etc. The Includers consider anyone with autistic traits to be on the spectrum, whether they meet any of the diagnostic criteria or not.

Personally, I tend to be an Includer, but I think those with autistic traits that don't qualify for an ASD label should examine how those traits have impacted their lives anyway.

From what I read here on WP, there seems to be many people who would not qualify for an ASD label but whose autistic traits have made it hard to make friends, or have a relationship, or hold a job, among other things. Lack of a label doesn't seem to preclude autistic type difficulties.

My dad is mildly AS. My mom is hypersensitive. My cousin, it seems, has either bap or pdd.

Its not so surprising for me to have AS.

And as far as PDD-NOS goes, (my daughter may be diagnosed with this, but not sure yet...find out next Wed) it's so confusing because if you have that diagnosis, you can only keep it for two years and then someone either has to dole out a diagnosis of Autism, or the label is dropped completely. So PDD-NOS is merely a "well, we have no idea, but we want to play it safe" diagnosis that is merely a place-holder...because you can't keep that diagnosis.

...but I guess it's still a good thing because insurance will probably help out with costs for that 2 yr period if need be.