Diagnosis Of Pervasive Developmental Disorders Research Articles

Investigating the borders of autism spectrum disorder: lessons from the former diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis is relatively consensual in typical forms. The margins of the spectrum and their degree of extension, however, are controversial. This has far-reaching implications, which extend beyond theoretical considerations: first, peripheral forms of autism are more prevalent than central forms; second, we do not know how relevant typical-targeted recommendations are for atypical forms. In DSM-IV-TR, these margins of autism were studied within the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). In spite of its low reliability, this former diagnosis was of particular interest to shed light on the gray area of margins. The aim of this systematic is therefore to investigate the clinical characteristics of PDD-NOS in comparison with Autistic Disorder. A stepwise systematic PRISMA literature review was conducted by searching PubMed and Web Of Science databases to select corresponding studies. The systematic review included 81 studies comprising 6,644 children with PDD-NOS. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies comparing PDD-NOS and AD showed that PDD-NOS corresponds to milder form of autism with less impact and less associated disorder, with the exception of schizophrenia and mood disorder. Our review challenges initial views of PDD-NOS, and shows the clinical relevance of this diagnosis when dealing with the margins of autism, and the de facto diversity included in the spectrum. However, in view of the many limitations of PDD-NOS (low reliability, instability through time, low acceptability), we suggest taxonomic changes in DSM-5: we introduce a new category based on three main dimensions related to socialization impairment, emotional lability and psychotic symptoms. Our review argues for a distinction between AD and PDD-NOS on clinical characteristics and thus highlights the need to study the margins of autism. While the limitations of the PDD-NOS category made it irrelevant to investigate these margins from a research perspective, we believe that a multidimensional approach for mental health professionals taping socialization, emotion lability and psychotic symptoms would be interesting. Our review therefore encourage future studies to test relevant criteria for a new category and possibly identify developmental trajectories, specific interventions and treatments.

Identifying individuals with intellectual disability who access mental health support and are at high risk for adverse clinical outcomes: cohort study.

People with intellectual disability often experience aggressive challenging behaviour and mental health issues. It can be difficult to identify those who are at higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes when in clinical care. To characterise potential subgroups in adults with intellectual disability referred to mental health services in those presenting with aggressive behaviour or common mental disorders (CMDs). There were 836 adults (≥18 years) with intellectual disability and a record of aggressive challenging behaviour, and 205 patients with intellectual disability and CMDs, who were seen in specialist mental health services over a 5-year period. Cluster analysis was used to define patient characteristics associated with clinical outcome. Distinct patient groups with differentiated profiles were observed in people with intellectual disability displaying aggressive challenging behaviour, and in those presenting with CMDs. Characteristics of the aggressive behaviour group who experienced adverse outcomes included being <30 years old, being male, more mentions of aggression and agitation in their clinical record, a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder and prescription of psychotropic medication. Characteristics of the CMD cluster that experienced adverse clinical outcomes were being older, being a White male, having a mild intellectual disability and physical health concerns. People with intellectual disability who experience adverse clinical outcomes can be identified with a cluster analysis approach of common features, but differ by clinical presentation. This could be used not only to stratify this clinically heterogeneous population in terms of response to interventions, but also improve precision in the development of tailored interventions.

Prevalence of Ophthalmologic Diagnoses in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using the Optum Dataset: APopulation-Based Study

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects an estimated 1.85% of children in the United States and is increasing in prevalence. Any relationship between ophthalmologic disorders and ASD is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to calculate the prevalence of ophthalmologic disorders in children with ASD. Population-based retrospective cohort study. Setting: claims data from Optum Labs Data Warehouse, a longitudinal real-world data asset with de-identified administrative claims and electronic health records data. StudyPopulation: children ≤18 years of age at the time of first claim between 2007 and 2013. diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) or autistic disorder (AD) according to International Classification of Disease-9th edition (ICD-9) codes. MainOutcomeMeasurements: prevalence of an ophthalmologic diagnosis (amblyopia, strabismus, optic neuropathy, nystagmus, or retinopathy of prematurity) by ICD-9 codes in typically developing (TD) controls and children with PDD and AD. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for each diagnosis were calculated using multivariate logistic regression models. Claims from more than 10 million children were included. The prevalence of any ophthalmologic diagnosis considered in this study was 3.5% in TD controls, 12.5% in children with PDD (adjusted OR, 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI, ], 3.16-3.29; P < .001), and 13.5% in children with AD (adjusted OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 3.15-3.31; P < .001). Population-based data suggested an increased risk of ophthalmologic diagnoses in children with ASD. Future research is necessary to further clarify the relationship between ophthalmologic disorders and autistic symptoms and severity.

Adult Manifestation of Milder Forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic and Non-autistic Psychopathology

We compared the presence of autistic and comorbid psychopathology and functional impairments in young adults who received a clinical diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified or Asperger’s Disorder during childhood to that of a referred comparison group. While the Autism Spectrum Disorder group on average scored higher on a dimensional ASD self- and other-report measure than clinical controls, the majority did not exceed the ASD cutoff according to the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. Part of the individuals with an ASD diagnosis in their youth no longer show behaviors that underscribe a clinical ASD diagnosis in adulthood, but have subtle difficulties in social functioning and a vulnerability for a range of other psychiatric disorders.

Temporal trends in incidence of Rolandic epilepsy, prevalence of comorbidities and prescribing trends: birth cohort study

ObjectiveTo examine temporal trends in incidence of Rolandic epilepsy (RE), prevalence of comorbidities and antiepileptic drug (AED) prescribing patterns.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingThe UK.PatientsChildren aged 0–16 years born 1994–2012 were followed from...

Pervasive Developmental Disorders in Iraqi Children

Background: Pervasive developmental disorders include five chronic disorders marked by early impairment in socialization, communication and behavior. Little is known about the types of pervasive developmental disorders in Iraq. This is a retrospective clinical study aiming at determining the types of pervasive developmental disorders in Iraqi children observed at the pediatric psychiatry clinic in a tertiary pediatric referral center. Patients and methods: During nine months period (November 18th, 2018 to July 18th, 2019), fifty one patients with a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders (30 males and 21 females) were observed at the psychiatry clinic at the Children Teaching Hospital of Baghdad Medical City. Their ages ranged from two and half years to twelve years. Results: Thirty two (17 males and 15 females) patients had autism without significant mental retardation as indicated by adequate urine and bowel control and self care skills particularly spoon feeding. Thirteen patients were considered to have atypical autism or Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (10 boys and 3 girls), in eleven of them, the disorder was considered atypical because of the lack of adequate urine and bowel control and self care skills particularly appropriate spoon feeding indicating significant degree of mental retardation. In one patient, his condition was considered a typical because of the presence of an acceptable eye contact and response appropriately to name in most instances. Three patients had Asperger syndrome including two girls and one boy. Two boys had childhood disintegrative disorder (Heller syndrome), one of them have changes on brain MRI suggestive of cerebral vasculitis. One girl had Rett syndrome and her case and early treatment was published. Conclusion: In this series, typical autism without significant mental retardation accounted for 63%. Atypical autism (Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise) was the second most common type of Pervasive developmental disorders accounting for about 25%. Asperger syndrome accounted for only 6% of the cases in this series

Türkiye’deki bir eğitim araştırma hastanesinin yatan hasta birimindeki çocukların psikomotor gelişim tarama sonuçları

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the psychomotor development of inpatient children in the pediatrics clinic and referring the children to the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic who have problems in their developmental process for early interventionMaterials and Methods: Four hundred twenty children between 4-72 months at inpatient unit of the department of Pediatrics at Konya State Research hospital were included in the present study. A child development specialist who was unaware of the history and neurological examination of the cases administered Denver developmental screening test (DDST) II to all children once. Children who were found to be abnormal or questionable were further evaluated by the child and adolescent psychiatrist. Results: Three hundred forty five (82%) were found to be ‘normal’, 12 (2.8%) were found to be ‘questionable’ and 64 (15.2%) cases were found to be ‘abnormal’ with regard to DDST II. Post evaluation of questionable and abnormal cases by the child and adolescent psychiatrist, 26 cases were referred to special education institutions with the diagnosis of global developmental delay and 2 cases with the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder. Conclusion: It is important to apply screening tests for developmental evaluation to each child at inpatient pediatric clinics in order to diagnose developmental delays earlier. It has critical importance of early diagnosis and intervention in children who have developmental delay in the interest of proper treatment for them.

Predictive components in the structure of an intensive, parent mediated, early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders in India.

Introduction:The predictive factors of parent mediated, Early Intervention (EI) for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have not been studied in India; we document the structural therapeutic factors, which predict the EI outcome.Methods:Data of 77 children with an ICD 10 diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (ASD in DSM 5), and completed a 12-week EI with proven effectiveness was collected from the database of a teaching hospital. We studied the structural therapeutic factors associated with EI outcome, as measured by Psycho-Educational Profile-Revised (PEP-R), while controlling the confounders with multiple linear regression analyses.Results:The Fine-motor skills improved in residential patients (t = 2.54, P = 0.02; 15 units). As the duration of intervention decreased at home per day, there was a significant decrease in Gross-motor skills (t = -2.67, P = 0.02; -15 units). With increase in duration of intervention in hospital per day, there was a significant increase (t = 2.86, P = 0.01; 30 units) in the Eye-hand integration. Cognitive-verbal skills acquisition decreased (t = -2.90, P = 0.01; 33 units) as the duration of intervention decreased at hospital. The use of medication did not predict any of the outcome factors.Conclusion:The above mentioned predictive factors should be monitored and titrated in the family context when children with ASD undergo parent mediated, EI programme. It is important to that the multidisciplinary family medicine teams reinforce these parents, who are the main column of support in primary-care settings for children with neuro-developmental disabilities in India.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 Compared to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV.

Objectives:The objective of this study was to investigate the concordance of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV and DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 170 subjects (age range: 3–23, 140 boys) with developmental delay or social deficit from January 2011 to July 2016 at the Department of Psychiatry of Asan Medical Center. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), and intelligence tests were performed for each subject. Diagnosis was reviewed and confirmed for each subject with DSM-IV Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and DSM-5 ASD criteria, respectively.Results:Fifty-eight of 145 subjects (34.1%) who were previously diagnosed as having PDD in DSM-IV did not meet DSM-5 ASD criteria. Among them, 28 (48.3%) had Asperger’s disorder based on DSM-IV. Most algorithm scores on ADOS and all algorithm scores on ADI-R were highest in subjects who met both DSM-IV PDD criteria and DSM-5 ASD criteria (the Convergent group), followed by subjects with a DSM-IV PDD diagnosis who did not have a DSM-5 ASD diagnosis (the Divergent group), and subjects who did not meet either DSM-IV PDD or DSM-5 ASD criteria (the non-PDD group). Intelligence quotient was lower in the Convergent group than in the Divergent group.Conclusion:The results of our study suggest that ASD prevalence estimates could be lower under DSM-5 than DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Further prospective study on the impact of new DSM-5 ASD diagnoses in Koreans with ASD is needed.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Particulate Matter Air Pollution before, during and after Pregnancy: A Case-Cohort Study within the National Infant Medical Check-Up Cohort

Background: There is increasing interest in the effect of air pollution in children&amp;#8217;s neurodevelopment but the evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigated the association of particulate matter air pollution exposure and pervasive developmental disorder(PDD) throughout the first 6 years of life.Methods: We conducted a case-cohort study of participants born in Korea in the year of 2008 who underwent at least the first medical check-up provided by The National Health Insurance Database until December 31, 2013. The study assessed all 761 subjects who were diagnosed with PDD till the age of six along with a subcohort of six times of that size, 5,178 subjects, selected as a 2.5% random sample of the full target cohort. Diagnosis of PDD was based on the payment and treatment data at the clinic. Daily averages of PM with diameters &amp;#8804; 2.5 &amp;#956;m (PM2.5) and &amp;#8804; 10 &amp;#956;m (PM10) were predicted from a spatiotemporal model for South Korea and linked to residential addresses. A weighted Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PDD in infants exposed to particulate matter air pollution.Results: A significant association was found between 10 &amp;#956;g/m3 increment in the PM2.5 concentration and PDD with adjusted RR of 1.12 (95% CI 1.04-1.20) among the participants with the same address before and after pregnancy. Associations with PM2.5 exposure 9 months before or after the pregnancy were weaker in independent models and when all periods were included, whereas the association with the 9 months of pregnancy remained. The association between PDD and PM2.5 was stronger for exposure during the third trimester (OR &amp;#61; 1.32 per IQR increase in PM2.5; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.49) than during the first two. There was little association between PM10 and PDD.Conclusions: The results suggest higher maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy, particularly the third trimester, was associated with the risk of developing PDD.

Mercury-associated diagnoses among children diagnosed with pervasive development disorders

Nelson and Bauman (Pediatrics 111:674-679, 2003) previously hypothesized that pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) was not associated with mercury (Hg) exposure because the medical conditions associated with Hg exposure were not associated with PDD. A hypothesis-testing longitudinal case-control study evaluated the frequency of medically diagnosed conditions previously associated with Hg poisoning, including: epilepsy, dysarthria, failure to thrive, cerebral palsy, or contact dermatitis and other eczema among children preceding their eventual PDD diagnosis (cases) compared to controls. A retrospective examination of medical records within the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) was undertaken. Cases diagnosed with PDD (n = 534) were born from 1991 to 2000 and continuously enrolled until their PDD diagnosis. Controls (n = 26,367) were born from 1991 to 1993 and continuously enrolled from birth for 7.22years. Within the first 5years of life, cases compared to controls were significantly (p < 0.0001) more likely to be assigned a diagnosis of contact dermatitis and other eczema (odds ratio (OR) = 2.033), dysarthria (OR = 23.992), epilepsy (OR = 5.351), failure to thrive (OR = 25.3), and cerebral palsy (OR = 4.464). Similar results were observed when the data were separated by gender. Overall, the results of the present study and recently published studies provide direct evidence supporting a link in twelve of twelve categories (100%) of Hg poisoning associated symptoms as defined by Nelson and Bauman (Pediatrics 111:674-679, 2003) and symptoms observed in those with a PDD diagnosis. The results of this study support the biological plausibility of Hg poisoning to induce PDD diagnoses and rejection of the Nelson and Bauman (Pediatrics 111:674-679, 2003) hypothesis because those with a PDD diagnosis have an increased frequency of conditions previously associated with Hg poisoning.

Neonatal factors among subjects diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder in the US

Purpose: Contradictory studies suggest that some neonatal factors may be associated with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) diagnosis, but limited data is available from longitudinal, prospective medical record assessments.Materials and methods: The present hypothesis-testing longitudinal, case-control study evaluated birth characteristics among cases diagnosed with a PDD in comparison to controls by examining prospectively collected automated medical records within the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database.Results: Cases were Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)-enrolled from birth until diagnosed with International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) PDD (299.xx) and controls were HMO-enrolled from birth for at least 4.75 years without a PDD diagnosis. The birth characteristics examined included: gender, gestational age in weeks at birth, mean birth weight in grams, Appearance-Pulse-Grimace-Activity-Respiration (APGAR) scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes, and maternal age in years at birth. Cases had a significantly increased male/female ratio relative to controls. By contrast, mean gestational age at birth, mean birth weight, mean maternal age at birth, and mean APGAR scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes were not statistically different among cases compared to controls.Conclusions: This study indicates that cases diagnosed with a PDD as compared to controls do not have significant differences in neonatal factors.

Underestimation of autism spectrum disorders according to DSM-5 criteria: A pilot study

IntroductionRecent studies on autism concern the number of individuals diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) according to DSM-IV-TR who may no longer qualify for diagnoses under the new DSM-5 autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is diagnosed using the impairments in two dimensions:– the social and communication dimension;– the restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors (RRIB) dimension whereas PDD is diagnosed using impairments in three dimensions.All the studies indicate between 50 and 75% of individuals will maintain diagnoses.ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to quantify how many individuals with previous PDD diagnoses under DSM-IV-TR criteria would maintain a diagnosis of ASD under DSM-5 criteria.MethodsOur sample consists of 23 cases (21 males, 2 female) related to the treatment Centre “Una breccia nel muro” of Rome and Salerno. All the cases previous received a PDD diagnose according to DSM-IV TR criteria. The mean age of cases was 7.7 years. All the cases were diagnosed by our team according to DSM-5 criteria, clinicians also used to make diagnoses: the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2, the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised.ResultsEighty-seven percent of cases with PDD were classified as ASD using DSM-5 criteria. Thirteen percent of cases, that previous received an Asperger diagnose, did not meet the ASD criteria (Fig. 1).ConclusionsDSM-5 criteria may easily exclude cases with high functioning from ASD because they tend to be atypical for ASD according to this study.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Pattern of Diagnosis and Co-occurring Symptoms in Adopted Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

To determine whether adopted children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) differ from the general ASD population in terms of diagnosis, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, sleep problems, and medications. We studied 163 adoptees in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (ATN) in comparison with 5624 nonadopted ATN participants (aged 1.5-17.6 years; mean [SD] = 6.2 [3.4] years). Gender, age, race, ethnicity, IQ, and categorical Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, ASD diagnosis were tested for differences by group (adopted versus nonadopted) by using independent-samples t tests for continuous variables and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. Logistic or linear regression models were used to examine the association between adoption status and several outcome variables, after controlling for covariates. After controlling for demographics and diagnosis, there were significant differences in group characteristics, including greater propensity for externalizing behavior (P < .001), internalizing behavior (P = .001), and sleep problems (P < .001) in the adopted population. Adoptees were also prescribed psychotropic medications (P < .001) more often than the nonadoptees. Adoptees received a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified significantly more frequently than controls (odds ratio = 1.8; CI = 1.3-2.5; P < .001), despite no significant difference in symptoms on standardized measures. These results suggest that the population of adopted children with ASD differs from the general ASD population both with regard to diagnostic subtype and co-occurring behavioral problems. Future research should evaluate the contributions of specific factors associated with adoption such as biological family history, pregnancy history, early childhood experience, and age at adoption.

The Psychometric Properties of Turkish Version of Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire in Children aged 6-18 years

The objective of this study is to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ-TR) and to find the best cutoff score for Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) cases. Children between 6 to 18 years old with diagnoses of PDD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were included. The healthy control (HC) group was recruited from children who did not have any psychiatric complaints or history. Furthermore, parents of 268 children filled the ASSQ-TR. Of the children, 51 were PDD, 67 were ADHD, 50 were OCD, and 100 were HC. In order to show the reliability of the ASSQ-TR, Cronbach's alpha values and test-retest were evaluated. ROC analyses was carried out to show concurrent validity and to determine the cutoff score. The Cronbach's alpha of ASSQ-TR is 0,86, while the test-retest reliability is r: 0,98. Total ASSQ-TR scores of children with PDD (27,96±9,5) were significantly higher than other groups (p<0,001). ROC analysis of ASSQ-TR showed the area under curve to be 0,97 with a cutoff of 16, having the maximum sensitivity (94,1%), specificity (89,0%), and 90,7% diagnostic accuracy of PDD versus HC scores. Our pilot data showed that ASSQ-TR is a reliable instrument that successfully differentiates clinically diagnosed PDD from HC. This instrument might therefore be useful for the screening of PDD in school-aged children in Turkish populations.

Eyewitnesses with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Due to the increase of awareness and diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), research has also increased regarding those with such disorders and their course in society. Eyewitness testimony is an area of research that has escalated in the recent years regarding the average person as well as PDD individuals. This paper addresses the issue of eyewitnesses with PDD.

Diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders: when and how? An area-based study about health care providers.

Pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) can be very difficult to diagnose in children and to communicate such a diagnosis to their parents. Families of children with PDD learn of their child's diagnosis long after the first symptoms are noted in the child's behavior. An area-based survey was conducted to assess all social and health care providers taking care of patients with PDDs in the Veneto Region (North-East Italy). Only 28% of health care providers arrived at a definite diagnosis when the child was in his/her first year of age, 51% when the child was 2-3 years old and 21% from age of 4 years and up. On average, the latency between the time of the diagnosis and its communication to the family was 6.9 months. However, a number of families did not ever have a diagnosis communicated to them. Sometimes, 68% of the providers did not communicate a PDDs diagnosis to patient's families, and 4% of them quite commonly. The well-known delay in making a diagnosis of PDDs has two distinct components: one relating to the difficulty of confirming a diagnosis of PDDs, the other, hitherto unrecognized, relating to the family being notified.

Diagnostic Boundaries of Autism Disorder Vs Pervasive Developmental Disorder Nos Comparative Observational Study and Literature Review

Diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), and above all diagnosis of the different PDD subtypes, is an ongoing challenge in psychopathology. Application of categorical criteria is complex and problematic in the clinical field where the boundaries dividing some of the PDD entities are blurred, creating particular problems for the clinician. A dimensional clinical approach, considering autistic symptom severity, level of functioning, developmental characteristics and symptoms other than the ones typically observed in autism, may be a more suitable approach in the clinical field and could provide the clinician treating these disorders with empirical guidance. To identify the clinical features that might differentiate the PDD subtypes, we conducted a comparative study in a clinical sample of children affected by autism disorder (AD) or pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and a mini critical review of the available literature addressing clinical and psychopathological differences between the two subtypes. The results of both our study and our literature review seem to show little support for the current PDD subtypes. In such a framework, the most significant element in clinical practice appears to be a deep knowledge of the characteristics of the individual in question. By adopting a broad and multi-faceted perspective, it becomes possible to define the most effective rehabilitation treatment. This applies particularly to the pharmacological treatment, since, to date, no specific therapies for PDDs are known and the choice of pharmacotherapy can be decided only on the basis of the patient's general profile and specific features.

Asperger syndrome in males over two decades: stability and predictors of diagnosis.

To examine the diagnostic stability of a childhood diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (AS) into adulthood in a prospective longitudinal study, and identify the predictors of stability. One hundred males with AS diagnosed in childhood (T0) according to Gillberg's AS criteria, were followed up prospectively into adulthood over an average of 19years (range 13-26years). Fifty males (mean age 30years) participated in this second follow-up (T2) of the cohort. Seventy-six had participated in a previous follow-up (T1) at mean age 22years (47 participated in both follow-ups). Diagnosis at T2 was assessed using three sets of diagnostic criteria (Gillberg's AS criteria, DSM-IV Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) criteria) and compared to previous assessments. Background predictors of diagnostic stability were analyzed. General functioning at T2 was assessed and compared to T1. There was a decline in the stability of AS diagnosis over time, the rate dropping from 82% at T1 to 44% at T2, when using the Gillberg criteria. There was also a significant decrease in the rate of cases fulfilling any PDD diagnosis according to the DSM-IV, from 91% at T1 to 76% at T2 in the 47 cases followed up twice. Severity of autism spectrum symptoms at T1 was the main predictor of diagnostic stability at T2. Twenty percent of those meeting criteria for a PDD diagnosis according to DSM-IV, did not meet DSM-5 ASD criteria although they had marked difficulties in everyday life. Asperger Syndrome, when considered as an ASD/PDD diagnosis, was fairly stable into adulthood, but there was a significant increase over time in cases no longer meeting criteria for an ASD diagnosis according to the DSM-IV, or AS according to the Gillberg criteria. Cases with a stable diagnosis showed significantly more core ASD symptoms in adolescence/young adulthood.

Comparison of WAIS-3 between patients with final diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders and other mental disorders who were initially suspected of developmental disorders

Comparison of WAIS-3 between patients with final diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders and other mental disorders who were initially suspected of developmental disorders