title: Follow-up of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders: stability and change during the preschool years.
abstract: Forty-one children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) receiving eclectic services were assessed twice during their preschool years. Measures were compared over time for the whole group and for diagnostic subgroups: Childhood autism (CA group) and Other PDDs group. The mean intelligence quotient/developmental quotient (IQ/DQ) of the whole group was stable (P = 0.209) and scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) decreased (P = 0.001). At time 2, the CA group was more impaired than the other PDDs group: autistic symptoms were more severe (P = 0.01), adaptive behavior scores were lower (P = 0.014), and a trend for lower IQ/DQs (P = 0.06). Children in this study seemed to fare better than reported in previous follow-up studies on children with autism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Autism and Communication Disorders, State Diagnostic and Counseling Center, Digranesvegur 5, 200, Kópavogur, Iceland. sigridurloa@greining.is
authors.forename: Sigrídur Lóa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jónsdóttir
authors.forename: Evald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saemundsen
authors.forename: Gudlaug
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asmundsdóttir
authors.forename: Sigrún
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hjartardóttir
authors.forename: Bryndís B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Asgeirsdóttir
authors.forename: Hrafnhildur H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Smáradóttir
authors.forename: Solveig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sigurdardóttir
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smári
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index