Autism and Epilepsy Co-Morbidity

Abstract

Neurology| April 01 2006 Autism and Epilepsy Co-Morbidity AAP Grand Rounds (2006) 15 (4): 43–44. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.15-4-43 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Autism and Epilepsy Co-Morbidity. AAP Grand Rounds April 2006; 15 (4): 43–44. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.15-4-43 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: autistic disorder, comorbidity, epilepsy Source: Clarke DF, Roberts W, Daraksan M, et al. The prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder in children surveyed in a tertiary care epilepsy clinic. Epilepsia. 2005;46:1970–1977. The prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 2–18 years with epilepsy was evaluated at the Tertiary Care Epilepsy Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. Parents were asked to complete 2 questionnaires based on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria: an autism screening questionnaire (ASQ) addressing age, social interaction, and language development of the child; and a pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ) relating to sleep disorders and behavior. Of 290 questionnaires distributed, 107 were returned, and 97 (33%) subjects were included in the study. The mean age was 12.7 years. A diagnosis of ASD had not been previously suspected in the majority. Patients with scores above the ASQ diagnostic cutoff of 15 (31 patients [32%]) were assigned to the ASD group and those with scores below the ASQ cutoff (66 patients [68%]) were included in the non-ASD group. A comparison of ASD and non-ASD groups showed similar mean age (11 years), body mass indices, male sex predominance (61% and 49%), average seizure frequency (10.5 and 5.38 per month), and number with generalized seizures (12/29 [41%] and 29/61 [47%]). Statistically significant differences included younger mean age at first seizure in the ASD group (21 months vs 55 months; P=.0001) and greater mean number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used in the ASD group (1.77±0.80 vs 1.45±0.91; P=.04). An increase in sleep-related problems in the ASD group included an increased frequency of nocturnal arousals (38% vs 17%, P=.06), difficulty in falling back to sleep after arousal (42% vs 18%, P=.02), early morning awakening (55% vs 26%, P=.01), and more daytime sleepiness reported by teachers (73% vs 45%, P=.01). Behavior scores pertaining to attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness were worse in the ASD versus non-ASD groups (3.7 vs 2.2, P=.001). Sleep-disordered breathing was strongly associated with a worse mean behavioral score of 3.45 in the ASD group versus 2.17 for non-ASD subjects. Dr. Millichap has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of a commercial product/device. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. The Committee on Children with Disabilities of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a prolonged sleep-deprived EEG in autistic children with regression.1 Sleep disorders are reported in children with epilepsy,2,3 and in those with autism.4 Sleep EEGs are abnormal in children with autism and subclinical seizures, and treatment with the anticonvulsant valproate results in improvement in language and social skills,5 an observation confirmed in children with autism and epilepsy.6 The present report emphasizes the importance of clinical vigilance for symptoms of autism and regression in language and communication in children with an onset of epilepsy. The authors also demonstrate the frequency of sleep and behavioral disorders... You do not currently have access to this content.