[Comorbidity in autism spectrum disorders - II. Genetic syndromes and neurological problems].
OBJECTIVE
Children with a pervasive developmental disorder show in addition to core symptoms a variety of genetic syndromes as well as neurological problems, which are relevant for the treatment and the course of the disorder. The objective of our study is to analyse the nature and the frequency of these co-morbid somatic disorders in relation to the level of intellectual functioning of the patients.


METHODS
The sample consists of 601 patients with a pervasive developmental disorder diagnosed at the Department of Developmental Disorders at the Heckscher-Klinikum between 1997 and 2007. In addition to genetic syndromes, we also recorded a variety of neurological disorders.


RESULTS
373 of the patients (62%) had at least one additional diagnosis and 121 (20%) had at least two additional diagnoses on Axis IV of the multi-axial classification scheme. Genetic syndromes were found in 6% of the patients (N = 37). Movement disorders (N = 214; 35.6%) and epilepsy (N = 98; 16.3%) were the most frequent neurological disorders. Children with mental retardation showed significantly more somatic diagnoses than children without mental retardation.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with pervasive developmental disorders show a wide variety of co-morbid somatic problems, which are relevant for the treatment and the course of the disorder. Children with autism and mental retardation show more co-morbid conditions and are more impaired in their psychosocial adaptation than children with autism without mental retardation.
Noterdaeme
Michele A
MA
Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und- psychotherapie, Kapellenstrasse 30, DE- 86154 Augsburg. michele.noterdaeme@1rz.uni-muenchen.de
Hutzelmeyer-Nickels
Anna
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult