RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Genetic risk for autism spectrum disorders and neuropsychiatric variation in the general population JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 027771 DO 10.1101/027771 A1 Elise B. Robinson A1 Beate St. Pourcain A1 Verneri Anttila A1 Jack Kosmicki A1 Brendan Bulik-Sullivan A1 Jakob Grove A1 Julian Maller A1 Kaitlin E. Samocha A1 Stephan Sanders A1 Stephan Ripke A1 Joanna Martin A1 Mads V. Hollegaard A1 Thomas Werge A1 David M. Hougaard A1 iPSYCH-SSI-Broad Autism Group A1 Benjamin M. Neale A1 David M. Evans A1 David Skuse A1 Preben Bo Mortensen A1 Anders D. Børglum A1 Angelica Ronald A1 George Davey Smith A1 Mark J. Daly YR 2015 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/09/29/027771.1.abstract AB Almost all genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can be found in the general population, but the effects of that risk are unclear in people not ascertained for neuropsychiatric symptoms. Using several large ASD consortia and population based resources, we find genetic links between ASDs and typical variation in social behavior and adaptive functioning. This finding is evidenced through both inherited and de novo variation, indicating that multiple types of genetic risk for ASDs influence a continuum of behavioral and developmental traits, the severe tail of which can result in an ASD or other neuropsychiatric disorder diagnosis. A continuum model should inform the design and interpretation of studies of neuropsychiatric disease biology.