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An Epidemiological Study of Infantile Autism in a French Department (Rhône): Research Note
Author(s) -
Cialdella Ph.,
Mamelle N.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00775.x
Subject(s) - autism , infantile autism , psychology , epidemiology , girl , pediatrics , autistic spectrum , psychiatry , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medicine
In a French Department (Rhône), the prevalence of infantile autism was found to be 10.8 per 10,000 in the 5–9 age group, using broad operational criteria. The prevalence decreases to 5.1 per 10,000 when another set of criteria, similar to DSM‐III, is used. The boy/girl sex ratios for these two sets of criteria were 2.1:1 and 2.3:1 respectively. The use of DSM‐III turned out to be problematic for taking into account a broad spectrum of early psychotic disorders, autistic‐like, yet more polymorphous. A subdivision concerning the existence of associated major neurological anomalies has appeared promising but requires finer validation.