Comorbid Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Disorders in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Belardinelli, Cecilia; Raza, Mahreen

doi:10.4172/2472-1786.100019

Cited by 29 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 97 publications

(116 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This might make clinicians more inclined to ascribe existing symptoms to conditions other than autism or refrain from diagnosing autism until clear and undisputed symptoms are present. In other words, previously diagnosed conditions can mask emerging ASD symptomatology, biasing attribution of progressively increasing impairment toward existing diagnoses (Belardinelli and Raza, 2016). Our findings highlight the challenge of successfully identifying overlapping symptoms as facets of distinct yet co-occurring disorders, while this challenge in turn reflects the growing realization that ADHD and ASD may not constitute entirely discrete disorders, but rather stem from potentially shared genetic etiology and neurodevelopmental sources that reflect circuitry breakdown, impaired functional networks, or aberrant connectivity (Gillberg, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed autism spectrum disorder recognition in children and adolescents previously diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Kentrou

Veld

Mataw

et al. 2018

Autism

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Phenotypic elements of autism spectrum disorder can be masked by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, potentially leading to a misdiagnosis or delaying an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. This study explored differences in the age of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis between participants with previously diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder versus autism spectrum disorder–only respondents. Children and adolescents, but not adults, initially diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis an average of 1.8 years later than autism spectrum disorder–only children, although the findings regarding the adult sample should be interpreted with caution. Gender differences were also explored, revealing that the delay in receiving an autism diagnosis was 1.5 years in boys and 2.6 years in girls with pre-existing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, compared with boys and girls without prior attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. No significant gender differences were observed in the adult sample. We argue that overlapping symptoms between autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder might delay a formal diagnosis of autism either by leading to a misdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or by making it difficult to identify the presence of co-occurring autism spectrum disorder conditions once an initial diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has been obtained. Current findings highlight the need to recruit multidimensional and multidisciplinary screening procedures to assess for potential emerging autism spectrum disorder hallmarks in children and adolescents diagnosed or presenting with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed autism spectrum disorder recognition in children and adolescents previously diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Kentrou

Veld

Mataw

et al. 2018

Autism

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Symptoms of comorbidities in ASD may be atypical and are often difficult to recognize (14). A major culprit propitiating these diagnostic difficulties is communication problems.…”

Section: Comorbidity and Autism Spectrum Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

Editorial: Comorbidity and Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Intellectual disability is observed in more than half of ASD cases (4, 5) and ASD autistic symptoms also affect social language skills and emotion regulation. In addition, ASD symptoms are often related to coexisting mental disorders and to other developmental disorders (6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Review of Sleep Disturbances and Circadian Sleep Desynchronization in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Toward an Integrative Model of a Self-Reinforcing Loop

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: A compelling number of studies, conducted in both children and adults, have reported an association between sleep disturbances/circadian sleep alterations and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the data are sparse and the nature of this link is still unclear. The present review aimed to systematically collect the literature data relevant on sleep disturbances and circadian sleep dysrhythmicity related to ASD across all ages and to provide an integrative theoretical framework of their association. Methods: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases was conducted from November 2018 to February 2019. The search strategies used were MeSH headings and keywords for “sleep–wake circadian rhythms” OR “circadian sleep disorders” OR “sleep–wake pattern” OR “sleep disorders” OR “melatonin” AND “autism spectrum disorder” OR “autism”. Results: One hundred and three studies were identified, 15 regarded circadian sleep dysrhythmicity, 74 regarded sleep disturbances, and 17 regarded melatonin alterations in children and adults with ASD. Our findings suggested that autistic subjects frequently present sleep disturbances in particular short sleep duration, low sleep quality/efficiency, and circadian sleep desynchronization such as delayed phases and/or eveningness. Sleep disturbances and circadian sleep alterations have been related to the severity of autistic symptoms. Genetic studies have shown polymorphisms in circadian CLOCK genes and in genes involved in melatonin pathways in subjects with ASD. Conclusions: Sleep disturbances and circadian sleep alterations are frequent in subjects with autistic symptoms. These subjects have shown polymorphisms in clock genes expression and in genes involved in melatonin production. The impairment of circadian sleep regulation may increase the individual’s vulnerability to develop symptoms of ASD by altering the sleep regulation in toto , which plays a key role in normal brain development. Even though controversies and “research gaps” are present in literature at this point, we may hypothesize a bidirectional relation between circadian sleep dysfunction and ASD. In particular, circadian sleep dysrhythmicity may predispose to develop ASD symptoms and vice versa within a self-reinforcing feedback loop. By targeting sleep disturbances and circadian sleep dysrhythmicity, we may improve treatment strategies for both children and adults with ASD.

show abstract

Comorbid Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Disorders in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Cited by 29 publications

References 97 publications

Delayed autism spectrum disorder recognition in children and adolescents previously diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Delayed autism spectrum disorder recognition in children and adolescents previously diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Editorial: Comorbidity and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Systematic Review of Sleep Disturbances and Circadian Sleep Desynchronization in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Toward an Integrative Model of a Self-Reinforcing Loop

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About