Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication deficits, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. In this lifelong condition the core features that cause impairment may also be expanded by behavioural and emotional problems. Individuals with ASD are likely to experience a higher prevalence of common mental disorders compared to the typically developed individuals. This high epidemiological burden of various psychiatric disorders among ASD population encourages further research and improvement in diagnostic practise in ASD and comorbid disorders. In this brief research report of a cross-sectional study, I aimed to estimate the psychiatric comorbidity prevalence and describe their general characteristics in children with ASD in the Autism Centre in Montenegro. The study population consisted of 152 patients who were diagnosed with ASD, 117 male and 35 female, and the mean age (SD) was 8.02 (4.26). In this brief research report prevalence of children with ASD with at least one psychiatric comorbidity was 36.84%. Only one psychiatric comorbidity disorder was reported in 17.16%, two in 9.87%, three in 8.55%, and in 0.66% patients four other psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders present in this population sample were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (17.76%), conduct disorder (13.10%), disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (9.87%), anxiety disorder and insomnia (7.89%), elimination disorder (3.29%), and depression (1.97%).
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by social communication deficits, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours [1]
The issue of psychiatric comorbidity in ASD has become more relevant in recent years as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) no longer excludes additional diagnoses among individuals with ASD [8]
This study population consisted of 152 patients who were diagnosed with ASD, 117 male and 35 female
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by social communication deficits, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours [1]. In 2012 a review of global prevalence estimates of autism spectrum disorders found a median of 62 cases per 10,000 people [2]. As an early-onset disorder, with a chronic course ASD represents a lifelong condition which affects lives of the affected individuals and of their families, caregivers, and communities [3]. In this lifelong course the core features of ASD that cause impairment may be expanded by behavioural and emotional problems [4, 5]. The issue of psychiatric comorbidity in ASD has become more relevant in recent years as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) no longer excludes additional diagnoses among individuals with ASD [8]
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