Abstract
Although considerable research has been done on various aspects of autism, information about the prevalence of coincident psychiatric disorders that may complicate this syndrome, is negligible. In this paper, we present preliminary data on the presentation of other psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with autism. Out of an outpaticent sample of 68 autistic children and adolescents, 6 (9%) presented with an associated psychiatric disorder. Depression was the most common diagnosis. None of the patients was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed.
Résumé
Bien qu'une recherche considérable ait été enterprise concenant les différents aspects de l'autisme, l'information sur la prévalence des troubles psychiatriques coïcidant et pouvant compliquer ce syndrome reste négligeable. Dans ce travail, nous présentons des faits préliminaires concernant les autres troubles psychiatriques chez les enfants et les adolescents avec autisme. Parmi un échantillon de 68 enfants et adolescents autistes vus en consultation: 6 (9%) présentaient un trouble psychiatrique associé La dépressio était le diagnostic le plus commun. Aucun des patients n'a eu un diagnostic de schizophrénie. Les implications de ces faits pour la clinique et la recherche sont discutées.
Zusammenfassung
Obwohl zu verschiedenen Aspekten des Autismus viel geforscht wurde, gibt es kaum Informationen zur koinzidentiellen Prävalenz von psychiatrischen Störungen, die das Syndrom komplizieren könne. In dieser Arbeit stellen wir vorläufige Daten über begleitende psychiatrische Störungen bei Kindern und Jugedlichen mit Autismus vor. Von 68 ambulant behandelten Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Autismus zeigten 9% eine assoziierte psychiatrische Störung. Depression war die häufigste Diagnose. Bei keinem der Patienten war die Diagnose Schizophrenie gestellt worden. Klinische und wissenschaftliche Implikationen dieser Befunde werden diskutiert.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, third edition, revised Washington, DC: Author.
Clarke, D.J., Littlejohns, C. S., Corbett, J. A. & Joseph, S. (1989). Pervasive developmental disorders and psychoses in adult life.British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 692–699.
DeLong, G. R. & Dwyer, J. T. (1988). Correlation of family history with specific autistic subgroups: Asperger's syndrome and bipolar affective disease.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 593–600.
Ghaziuddin, M. & Tsai, L. (1991). Depression in autistic disorder.British Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 721–723.
Gillberg, C. (1985). Asperger's syndrome and recurrent psychosis-A case study.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 4, 389–97.
Golden, G. S. & Greenhill, L. (1981). Tourette syndrome in mentally retarded children.Mental Retardation, 19, 17–19.
Goldman, J. J. (1988). Tourette syndrome in severely behavior disordered mentally retarded children.Psychiatric Quarterly, 59, 73–78.
Gordon, C., Rapoport, J., Hamburger, M. S. & Mannheim, G. (1990). Differential response of autistic disorder to clomipramine. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, Chicago.
Kanner, L. (1943) Autistic disturbances of affective contact.Nervous Child, 2, 217–50.
Kerbeshian, J. & Burd, L. (1986). Asperger's syndrome and Tourette syndrome. The case of the Pinball Wizard.British Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 721–725.
Krug, D. A., Arick, J. R. & Almond, P. J. (1980). Behavior checklist for identifying severely handicapped individuals with high levels of autistic behaviour.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21, 221–229.
Lund, J. (1988). Psychiatric aspects of Down's syndrome.Acta Psychiatrica Scandiavica, 78, 369–374.
McDougle, C. J., Price, L. H. & Goodman, W. K. (1990). Fluvoxamine treatment of coincident autistic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disother: A case report.Journal of Autism and Development Disorder, 20, 537–543.
McNally, R. J. & Calamari, J. R. (1989). Obsessive-compulsive disorder in a mentally retarded woman.British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 116–117.
Petty, L. K., Omitz, E. M., Michelman, J. D. & Zimmerman, E. G. (1984). Autistic children who become schizophrenic.Archives of Genral Psychiatry, 41, 129–55.
Rutter, M. & Schopler, E. (1988). Concepts and diagnostic issues. In M. Rutter & E. Schopler (Eds). Diagnosis and Assessment in Autism. New York: Plenum Press.
Sparrow, S., Balla, D. & Cicchetti, D. (1984).Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
Sovner, R. & Hurley, A. D. (1983). Do the mentally retarded suffer from affective illness.Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 61–67.
Swedo, S. E. & Rapoport, J. L. (1990). Annotation: Trichotillomania.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 32, 401–409.
Vitiello, B., Speat, S. & Behar, D. (1989). Obsessivecompulsive disorder in mentally retarded patients.Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 117, 232–236.
Volkmar, F. R. & Cohen, D. J. (1986). Classification and diagnosis of childhood autism. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.),Diagnosis and Assessment in Autism. New York: Plenum Press.
Volkmar, F. R. & Cohen, D. J. (1991). Comorbid association of autism and schizophrenia.American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 1705–1707.
Wing, L. (1981). Asperger's syndrome: A clinical account.Psychological Medicine, 11, 115–29.
Young, J. G., O'Brian, J. D., Gutterman, E. M. & Cohen, P. (1987). Research on the clinical interview.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 5, 613–620.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ghaziuddin, M., Tsai, L. & Ghaziuddin, N. Comorbidity of autistic disorder in children and adolescents. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 209–213 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02094180
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02094180