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Autism and Asperger syndrome: coexistence with other clinical disorders
Author(s) -
Gillberg and C.,
Billstedt E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.102005321.x
Subject(s) - autism , asperger syndrome , comorbidity , psychology , psychiatry , mind blindness , clinical psychology , developmental disorder , pervasive developmental disorder , psychiatric comorbidity , cognition , theory of mind
Objective: To provide a clinically useful analysis of the extent to which autism and Asperger syndrome coexist with other disorders. Method: Selective review of the literature detailing data pertaining to symptoms and disorders sometimes encountered in connection with autism or Asperger syndrome. Results: A large number of medical conditions, psychiatric disorders and behavioural and motor dyscontrol symptoms are associated with autism and Asperger syndrome. Conclusion: Comorbidity is to be expected in autism spectrum disorders — directly or indirectly. Comorbid conditions may be markers for underlying pathophysiology and suggest a more varied treatment approach. There is a great need for in‐depth research into this area, meaning that the exclusion criteria of current diagnostic manuals, i.e. those that rule out a diagnosis of autism in some disorders, and a diagnosis of certain other disorders in autism may have to be revised.