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Autism Spectrum Disorders: Concurrent Clinical Disorders

Department of Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, mingxu{at}umdnj.edu

Michael Brimacombe, PhD

Department of Preventive Medicine

Janti Chaaban, MD

Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

Barbie Zimmerman-Bier, MD

Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

George C. Wagner, PhD

Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder are heterogeneous in clinical presentation, concurrent disorders, and developmental outcomes. This study characterized the clinical co-occurrences and potential subgroups in 160 children with autism spectrum disorders who presented to The Autism Center between 1999 and 2003. Medical and psychiatric co-occurrences included sleep disorders, epilepsy, food intolerance, gastrointestinal dysfunction, mood disorder, and aggressive and self-injurious behaviors. Sleep disorders were associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction (P < .05) and mood disorders (P < .01). Food intolerance was associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction (P = .001). Subjects with mood disorder tended to develop aggressive or self-injurious behaviors (P < .05). Developmental regression was not associated with increased co-occurrence of medical or psychiatric disorders. Medical co-occurrence did not present as a risk factor for psychiatric co-occurrence, and vice versa. These results showed a high prevalence of multiple medical and psychiatric co-occurrences. There may be common pathophysiologic mechanisms resulting in clinical subgroups of autism spectrum disorders. Recognition of the co-occurrence of concurrent disorders may provide insight into the therapeutic strategy.

Key Words: autism spectrum disorders • psychiatric disorders • regression

This version was published on January 1, 2008

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 23, No. 1, 6-13 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0883073807307102


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