Journal Article

ASD Symptom Severity in Adolescence of Individuals Diagnosed with PDD-NOS in Childhood: Stability and the Relation with Psychiatric Comorbidity and Societal Participation

Louwerse, A., Verheij, F., Greaves-Lord, K., Van der Ende, J., Eussen, M. L. J. M., Verheij, C., Verhulst, F. C., Van Gool, A. R., Dekker, L. P., de Nijs, P. F. A.

2015

Overview

The current 7-year follow-up study investigated: (1) the stability of ASD severity, and (2) associations of ASD severity in adolescence with (a) childhood and concurrent psychiatric comorbidity, and (b) concurrent societal functioning. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children were administered in childhood (ages 6–12) and in adolescence (ages 12–20) to 72 individuals with a pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). ADOS calibrated severity scores showed a large stability ( r  = .51). Psychiatric comorbidity in childhood and adolescence were not associated with ASD severity in adolescence. Mental health care use (87 %) and special education needs were high (71 %). Reevaluation of ASD severity and psychiatric comorbidity later in life seem useful when PDD-NOS is diagnosed in childhood.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescent / Adolescents / Adults / Autism / Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic children / Behavior disorders / Behavior Problems / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Care and treatment / Child / Child & adolescent psychiatry / Child and School Psychology / Child development / Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - diagnosis / Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - epidemiology / Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - psychology / Child psychology / Childhood / Children / Children & youth / Cognitive ability / Comorbidity / Complications and side effects / Developmental disabilities / Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children / Diagnostic Tests / Female / Humans / Interpersonal Competence / Longitudinal studies / Male / Mental Disorders / Mental health / Mental health care / Mental health services / Neurosciences / Nitric-oxide synthase / Observation / Pediatrics / Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Psychology / Public Health / Risk factors / S.I : ASD in Adulthood: Comorbidity and Intervention / Scores / Severity / Severity (of Disability) / Social Behavior / Special education / Special needs children / Stability / Studies / Symptoms (Individual Disorders) / Young Adult