Abstract
Aims and Method Individuals with autism often have complex needs. In this paper, we attempt to establish the prevalence rates of other major psychiatric illnesses in learning disabled adults diagnosed with autism and analyse the use of medication in these individuals. A total of 571 clients with learning disability were screened for autistic spectrum disorder, identifying 164 individuals for study. Psychiatric and medical diagnoses were also reviewed. Results Of the individuals with autism, 35% had another comorbid psychiatric disorder. An overall prevalence rate of 10% for hypothyroidism was also identified and 35% of people with autism and no other psychiatric diagnosis were on neuroleptics. Clinical Implications Planning of services for autism will have to take into account the high comorbidity of autism and other psychiatric conditions. Individuals with autism will also benefit from close monitoring of mental state and the development of hypothyroidism.
Highlights
An overall prevalence rate of 10% for hypothyroidism was identified and 35% of people with autism and no other psychiatric diagnosis were on neuroleptics
The concept of a classic triad of symptoms has developed into the present model of a continuum of related disorders, referred to as pervasive developmental disorders, with classic Kannerian autism lying at one extreme
Most of the sample with autistic spectrum disorder did not have a definitive cause for their learning disability recorded, but of those whose diagnoses were known, 11 had Down’s syndrome, two had tuberous sclerosis and one each had metachromatic leucodystrophy, fragile-X syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome and phenylketonuria
Summary
The study population was identified in a two-stage method. Adults with learning disability attending any social, voluntary sector, private sector or National Health Service (NHS) service within an urban NHS Trust area (adult population of 230 000) were screened for pervasive developmental disorders using the Pervasive Developmental Disorder Mental Retardation Scale (PDDMRS; Kraijer, 1997). It is designed to be used in all levels of learning disability and from 2 to 55 years of age. The PDD-MRS identified 153 positively tested individuals. On clinical examination by a learning disability consultant psychiatrist, to meet the ICD-10 (World Health Organization, 1992) criteria for autistic spectrum disorder. Of the 27 people identified as borderline with the PDD-MRS, 18 were clinically confirmed to have an autistic spectrum disorder by meeting the ICD-10 criteria
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
