[Medical treatment of pervasive developmental disorders].
OBJECTIVE
Pervasive developmental disorders, exemplified by autism, constitute clinical entities which require the attention of child neurologists.


METHODS
The increasing frequency with which these disorders are diagnosed supports the need to review and bring up to date the available data, so as to achieve good practice.


CONCLUSIONS
There are many studies and initiatives to orient the child neurologist as to the steps to be taken regarding aspects such as early identification, association with known syndromes, genetic counselling and medical advice in general, neuroimaging techniques, treatment of possible associated epilepsy and use of psychotropic drugs. All these elements have to be incorporated into an overall individualized program which, at the present time, has to be basically educational and rehabilitation, so as to attain maximum self sufficiency and social participation.
Fuentes
J
J
Servicio de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil; Policlínica Guipúzcoa. GAUTENA, San Sebastián, 20011, España. jfuentes@servitel.es
Gallano
I
I
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans