title: Depressive pseudodementia in a child with autism.
abstract: Depression is rare in early childhood and unusual in autism in this age group. We describe a female child aged 6 years with autism who presented with regression of developmental skills previously gained. Her sleep and appetite were poor, her affect was sad, and she had morbid speech content. She responded to treatment with antidepressant medication. When this clinical picture occurs in adults it is called depressive pseudodementia; paediatric neurologists and neuropsychiatrists need to be aware of it in children.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pollard
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prendergast
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D012649:Self Concept
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000639:Amitriptyline