Skip to main content
Log in

Outcome and prognostic factors in infantile autism and similar conditions: A population-based study of 46 cases followed through puberty

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This follow-up study reports data from a population-based series of children in the Göteborg region of Sweden diagnosed in childhood as suffering from infantile autism and other childhood psychoses and followed through to the ages of 16–23 years. The results of the study are in good accord with the only previous population-based study of the same kind. IQ at diagnosis and communicative speech development before 6 years were the most important prognostic factors, but other trends were seen that also compare favorably with previous studies. Some previously unreported trends also emerged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allanen, Y. O., Arajärvi, T., & Viitamäki, R. O. (1964). Psychoses in childhood.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (Suppl 174).

  • Annell, A-L. (1963). The prognosis in psychotic syndromes in children.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 39, 235–297.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beeckmans-Balle, M. (1973). Le syndrome d'autisme infantile.Acta Psychiatrica Belgica, 73, 537–555.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Creak, M. (1963). Childhood psychosis. A review of 100 cases.British Journal of Psychiatry, 109, 84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeMyer, M. K., Barton, S., DeMyer, W. E., Norton, J. A., Allen, J., & Steele, R. (1973). Prognosis in autism: A follow-up study.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 3, 199–246.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deykin, E. Y., & MacMahon, B. (1979). The incidence of seizures among children with autistic symptoms.American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 1310–1312.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, L. (1956). The autistic child in adolescence.American Journal of Psychiatry, 112, 607–612.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C. (1980). Maternal age and infantile autism.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10, 293–297.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C. (1984). Autistic children growing up. Problems of puberty and adolescence.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 26, 125–129.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C. (1985). Asperger's syndrome and recurrent psychosis-A case study.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 15, 389–397.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldfarb, W. A. (1970). A follow-up investigation of schizophrenic children treated in residence.Psychosocial Process, 1, 9–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg, B., Aicardi, J., Dias, K., & Ramos, O. (1983). A progressive syndrome of autism, dementia, ataxia and loss of purposeful hand use in girls: Rett's syndrome: Report of 35 cases.Annals of Neurology, 14, 471–479.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, L. (1971). Follow-up study of 11 autistic children originally reported in 1943.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1, 119–145.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, L., & Eisenberg, L. (1956). Early infantile autism: 1943–1955.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 26, 55–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komoto, J., Usui, S., & Hirata, J. (1984). Infantile autism and affective disorders.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 14, 81–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V. (1974). Factors related to outcome in autistic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 4, 263–277.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V. (1978). Follow-up studies. In M. Rutter, & E. Schopler, E. (Eds.),Autism: A reappraisal of concepts and treatment (pp. 475–495). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1970). Autistic children: Infancy to adulthood.Seminars in Psychiatry, 2, 435–450.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1978). Diagnosis and definition. In M. Rutter, & E. Schopler (Eds.),Autism: A reappraisal of concepts and treatment (pp. 1–25). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1985). Infantile autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. In M. Rutter & L. Hersov, (Eds.),Child and adolescent psychiatry: Modern approaches (2nd ed.), (pp. 545–566). Oxford, England: Blackwell Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, J. M. (1962). Growth at adolescence. Oxford, England: Blackwell Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1981). Asperger's syndrome: A clinical account.Psychological Medicine, 11, 115–129.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1983). Social and interpersonal needs. In E. Schopler, & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.),Autism in adolescents and adults (pp. 337–354). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gillberg, C., Steffenburg, S. Outcome and prognostic factors in infantile autism and similar conditions: A population-based study of 46 cases followed through puberty. J Autism Dev Disord 17, 273–287 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01495061

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01495061

Keywords

Navigation