ERP differences among subtypes of pervasive developmental disorders.
BACKGROUND
Children with multiple complex developmental disorder (MCDD) have been distinguished from autistic children on the basis of chart reviews. It was questioned whether it is possible to find other, e.g., event-related potential (ERP), evidence for this assertion.


METHODS
ERPs were measured in response to stimuli in a visual oddball task in autistic, MCDD, attention deficit disorder, dyslexic, and normal control children, to study whether ERP peaks can be used to distinguish autistic and MCDD children, and to classify the aforementioned groups.


RESULTS
It was found that the P3 at four different leads and the frontal Nc showed differences among the groups, and that the autistic and MCDD groups differed from each other as well as from the other groups. Also, it was found that, using discriminant analyses in which these parameters were included, children were classified above chance level. Especially in the MCDD group, a high percentage of correct classification was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
ERP parameters indicate that autistic and MCDD children might differ in underlying pathology and might therefore, better be regarded as two separate diagnostic entities.
Kemner
C
C
Utrecht University, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Netherlands.
van der Gaag
R J
RJ
Verbaten
M
M
van Engeland
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000175:diagnosis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000379:methods; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales