Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample

Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Charman, T., Chandler, S., Loucas, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8130-6690 and Baird, G. (2008) Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47 (8). pp. 921-929. ISSN 0890-8567 doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e318179964f

Abstract/Summary

Objective: Autism spectrum disorders are now recognized to occur in up to 1% of the population and to be a major public health concern because of their early onset, lifelong persistence, and high levels of associated impairment. Little is known about the associated psychiatric disorders that may contribute to impairment. We identify the rates and type of psychiatric comorbidity associated with ASDs and explore the associations with variables identified as risk factors for child psychiatric disorders. Method: A subgroup of 112 ten- to 14-year old children from a population-derived cohort was assessed for other child psychiatric disorders (3 months' prevalence) through parent interview using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment. DSM-IV diagnoses for childhood anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, trichotillomania, enuresis, and encopresis were identified. Results: Seventy percent of participants had at least one comorbid disorder and 41% had two or more. The most common diagnoses were social anxiety disorder (29.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI)] 13.2-45.1), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (28.2%, 95% CI 13.3-43.0), and oppositional defiant disorder (28.1%, 95% CI 13.9-42.2). Of those with attention/deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 84% received a second comorbid diagnosis. There were few associations between putative risk factors and psychiatric disorder. Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders are common and frequently multiple in children with autism spectrum disorders. They may provide targets for intervention and should be routinely evaluated in the clinical assessment of this group.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/13868
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) Research Network Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords	autism, child psychiatric disorders, prevalence, Special Needs and, Autism Project, PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, YOUNG-ADULTS, DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW, MENTAL-RETARDATION, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, SYMPTOMS, ADOLESCENTS, PEOPLE
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