title: A pilot study of abnormal growth in autism spectrum disorders and other childhood psychiatric disorders.
abstract: The aims of the current study were to examine whether early growth abnormalities are (a) comparable in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other childhood psychiatric disorders, and (b) specific to the brain or generalized to the whole body. Head circumference, height, and weight were measured during the first 19 months of life in 129 children with ASD and 59 children with non-ASD psychiatric disorders. Both groups showed comparable abnormal patterns of growth compared to population norms, especially regarding height and head circumference in relation to height. Thus abnormal growth appears to be related to psychiatric disorders in general and is mainly expressed as an accelerated growth of height not matched by an increase in weight or head circumference.
authors.affiliation: Karakter, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. n.lambregts-rommelse@psy.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Nanda N J
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Rommelse
authors.forename: Cindy T R
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Iris J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Oosterling
authors.forename: Janne C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Daniëlle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bons
authors.forename: Daphne J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Steijn
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Draaisma
authors.forename: Rutger-Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van der Gaag
authors.forename: Jan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002508:Cephalometry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D058068:Endophenotypes; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires