How can population cohort studies contribute to our understanding of low prevalence clinical disorders? the case of autism spectrum disorders

In this paper, we describe how secondary data analyses of large population-representative surveys can be used to refine methodological designs on the prevalence of behavior problems and maternal mental health problems in families with a child with an autism spectrum disorder. We also suggest that prospective repeated measures usually available in cohort studies are extremely useful for understanding complex inter-relationships between the broader autism phenotype and parental variables, in a way that is more relevant to the entire autism spectrum disorder population and not just those families with the highest levels of difficulties.