Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2008•Elsevier
OBJECTIVE: Autism spectrum disorders are now recognized to occur in up to 1% of the
population and to be a major public health concern because of their early onset, lifelong
persistence, and high levels of associated impairment. Little is known about the associated
psychiatric disorders that may contribute to impairment. We identify the rates and type of
psychiatric comorbidity associated with ASDs and explore the associations with variables
identified as risk factors for child psychiatric disorders. METHOD: A subgroup of 112 ten-to …
population and to be a major public health concern because of their early onset, lifelong
persistence, and high levels of associated impairment. Little is known about the associated
psychiatric disorders that may contribute to impairment. We identify the rates and type of
psychiatric comorbidity associated with ASDs and explore the associations with variables
identified as risk factors for child psychiatric disorders. METHOD: A subgroup of 112 ten-to …
OBJECTIVE
Autism spectrum disorders are now recognized to occur in up to 1% of the population and to be a major public health concern because of their early onset, lifelong persistence, and high levels of associated impairment. Little is known about the associated psychiatric disorders that may contribute to impairment. We identify the rates and type of psychiatric comorbidity associated with ASDs and explore the associations with variables identified as risk factors for child psychiatric disorders.
METHOD
A subgroup of 112 ten- to 14-year old children from a population-derived cohort was assessed for other child psychiatric disorders (3 months' prevalence) through parent interview using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment. DSM-IV diagnoses for childhood anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, trichotillomania, enuresis, and encopresis were identified.
RESULTS
Seventy percent of participants had at least one comorbid disorder and 41% had two or more. The most common diagnoses were social anxiety disorder (29.2%, 95% confidence interval [Cl)] 13.2-45.1), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (28.2%, 95% Cl 13.3-43.0), and oppositional defiant disorder (28.1 %, 95% Cl 13.9-42.2). Of those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 84% received a second comorbid diagnosis. There were few associations between putative risk factors and psychiatric disorder.
CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric disorders are common and frequently multiple in children with autism spectrum disorders. They may provide targets for intervention and should be routinely evaluated in the clinical assessment of this group. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2008;47(8):921-929.
Elsevier