Sixty-nine early morning urine samples obtained from three groups of young adult males (autistic, mentally handicapped, and a group of men of normal intelligence) were analyzed using the methods described by Trygstad et al. (1980). No consistent patterns of urinary chromatographic profiles were identified. A number of possible contributing factors are discussed in relation to this failure to replicate the results of previous studies.
Our grateful thanks to the staff and residents of the residential units for young autistic adults, staff and clients at Brixton Adult Training Centre, Leybourne Grange Hospital and all the volunteers who took part in this study. Thanks also to Anne Ross for her secretarial assistance. This work partly funded by the MacArthur Research Foundation.