AUTISM RELATED DISORDERS – COMORBITIES – ARGUMENTS FOR AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: The recent researches in the field of autistic disorders aim a series of issues concerning genetics, molecular biology, neurology and child psychiatry. According to the utmost up-to-date conclusions and also to the basic clinical surveys, approaches of child autism deal with a vast interdisciplinary research.

Resources and Method: Our survey investigated a group of 80 children and teenagers, both male and female – closely monitored throughout an year at the Clinic of Paedriatic Neurology from Cluj-Napoca – whose diagnoses implied severe development disorders.

Results: We have come to the following diagnoses: autism, atypical autism, Rett syndrome, aminoacidopathy, hyperkinetic disorders associated with mental retardation and stereotypes, infantile residual encephalopathy associated with typical autistic symptoms. Overall, our clinical observations have frequently pointed out: language and speaking disorders – all 80 children, 100%, mental retardation-72 children, 90%. neurological sequelae-53 children, 66%, endocrine-somatic disorders – 26 children, 38%, epilepsy and febrile convulsions – 20 children, 25%, ADHD -15 children, 18%.

Conclusion: Our survey’s final considerations led to the imperious necessity of an interdisciplinary approach in the field of autism related development disorders.