title: Children with autistic spectrum disorder and a family history of affective disorder.
abstract: This paper compiles the clinical behavioral phenomenology of individuals with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) with a family history of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) or major depression and no identified neurological disorder, based on repeated clinical interviews during extended follow-up (ranging from six months to 21 (mean 3.9) years. Their pattern of affective and cognitive symptoms showed notable similarities across the entire group, despite wide variations in severity; was congruent with standard definitions of ASD; showed many features of childhood BPAD, including affective extremes, cyclicity, obsessive traits, special abilities, and regression after initial normal development; and differed from that of autistic children with neurological etiologies. These observations support the concept that ASD in some cases may be etiologically related to BPAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeLong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics*