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Query: UMLS:C0004352 (autism)
 32,579 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The objective of this literature review is to assess the validity of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Twenty papers were identified that adequately investigated the internal or external validity of various subtypes of ASD. At least three groups can be distinguished from autism on clinical grounds; an Asperger syndrome subtype, and two atypical subtypes characterized by low IQ and high IQ. However, the evidence that these clinical distinctions carry inferences with respect to etiology, clinical course, and treatment is only suggestive. Nevertheless, the specification of several ASD subtypes might promote further research and resolve many of the nosologic issues with respect to the classification of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs).
J Autism Dev Disord 1992 Dec
PMID:The validity of autistic spectrum disorders: a literature review. 148 78

The social impairments of autism, which are especially salient in autism of the Asperger type, have been attributed to a failure of affective processing, and more recently to a failure to develop a "theory of mind". Recent research evidence bearing on these theories is reviewed and a new hypothesis is put forward, based on research in progress, which posits a developmentally earlier abnormality of the "social gaze response": the inherent tendency of the normal infant to focus gaze and attention on social cues and, later, on objects in the environment as indicated by the gesture of gaze of others. Weakness or absence of the social gaze response is enough, it is argued, to account for many of the typical symptoms of autism, including the failure to acquire a theory of mind.
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PMID:Characterizing the fundamental social handicap in autism. 158 6

The siblings and parents of 35 children with infantile autism/autistic disorder were compared with those of children with deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP) and of normal children for reported speech and language problems, reading and spelling problems, social deficits and psychiatric disorders. Children with autism tended more often to be the first and only child and there was some support for genetic stoppage in this group. Learning disorders were equally common among siblings and parents of the autism and normal groups, but less common compared with the DAMP group. Asperger syndrome was more common among first-degree relatives of children with autism compared with normal children. There was a tendency for schizo-affective disorder to be more common among mothers of children with autism. The findings are discussed in the context of a genetic model for the development of autism.
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PMID:Siblings and parents of children with autism: a controlled population-based study. 159 92

Recent autism and autism-related research from Gothenburg is surveyed. In indigenous families, typical autism seems no more common now than 10 years ago. Genetic factors play a part in causing autism and Asperger syndrome. Certain medical syndromes carry a relatively high risk of concomitant autistic symptoms. Evidence for non-specific brain dysfunction is often found in autism and autistic-like conditions. The search for the underlying clue to the riddle of autism may be futile. Autism might be best conceptualized as a behavioural syndrome reflecting underlying brain dysfunction which shades into other clinical syndromes. A new class of disorders of empathy is proposed.
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PMID:The Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture 1991. Autism and autistic-like conditions: subclasses among disorders of empathy. 163 91

Two girls and a boy showing autistic behaviour and fulfilling the criteria for autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome or atypical autism were diagnosed as having hypomelanosis of Ito syndrome. It is suggested that skin changes indicating underlying neurocutaneous disorders be meticulously looked for in all cases with autism and autistic-like conditions.
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PMID:Hypomelanosis of Ito in three cases with autism and autistic-like conditions. 171 28

This study compared the neuropsychological profiles of individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger's syndrome (AS). In comparison with matched controls, both groups were impaired on executive function tests. Only the HFA group demonstrated deficits in theory of mind and verbal memory, performing more poorly than both controls and AS subjects. These results suggest that: (1) HFA and AS are empirically distinguishable on measures independent of diagnostic criteria, and (2) impairment on theory of mind measures is not universally found among individuals with autistic spectrum conditions. The primacy of executive function and theory of mind deficits to autism is discussed.
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PMID:Asperger's syndrome: evidence of an empirical distinction from high-functioning autism. 178 39

The Asperger syndrome, a less severe variant of autism, has drawn increasing interest among child psychiatrists. Cerebral blood flow studies with autistic subjects have failed to reveal consistent findings. We are reporting a case with the Asperger syndrome, whose single photon emission computed tomography showed left occipital hypoperfusion.
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PMID:Left occipital hypoperfusion in a case with the Asperger syndrome. 181 Jan 64

Thirty-five children with autistic disorder and 17 with autistic-like conditions underwent an exhaustive neurobiological evaluation, and the findings were contrasted with those obtained from various comparison groups. Almost 90 per cent of the children with autistic disorder and autistic-like conditions had major indications of brain damage or dysfunction. Some of those who did not show such abnormalities had a first-degree relative with Asperger syndrome. The rate of abnormality was similar to that of severely mentally retarded children, but in excess of that of normal children. Within the autism group, abnormality rate did not correlate with degree of mental retardation. It is concluded that autism has multiple biological aetiologies and that autistic symptoms in a child should always prompt a thorough medical/neurobiological evaluation.
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PMID:Neuropsychiatric assessment of children with autism: a population-based study. 186 76

The objective of this paper was to employ a functional linguistic approach to explore pragmatic failure in the spontaneous speech of subjects with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Patterns of intonation use were compared among subjects with Asperger's syndrome (AS), high-functioning autism (HFA), and psychiatric out-patient controls (OPC) with a variety of non-specific social problems. Written transcripts and audio-recordings were used to measure rates of various intonation types relative to the amount of speech produced. The major finding of the study was that the HFA subjects less often tend to employ useful patterns of intonation for communication than the AS or OPC groups. This suggests that HFA either send random intonation signals to hearers or else demonstrate systematic misuse of the linguistic system. AS subjects differed little from the controls. The implications of these results for understanding the communicative failure of PDD subjects is discussed.
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PMID:The use of intonation to communicate in pervasive developmental disorders. 191 27

Should Asperger's syndrome be distinguished as a separate clinical entity? Unfortunately, relatively little empiric information is available on this issue. The data suggest, however, that even compared to high-functioning autistic children of equivalent IQ, Asperger's syndrome children have better social and language skills. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that they have a different outcome, although this needs to be confirmed in proper, controlled follow-up studies. Although some differences in etiology between autism and Asperger's syndrome have been identified, these are of uncertain clinical significance. It may be that, for purposes of recognition and research, Asperger's syndrome should be considered a separate entity. This ensures that such children are identified for treatment and included in research protocols. This, in itself, would be of considerable benefit, even if it is acknowledged that Asperger's syndrome and autism probably represent different endpoints of a similar pathogenic mechanism. Asperger's syndrome represents a type of developmental disability that profoundly limits a child's participation in the process of growing up. After all, childhood is a time of play and of learning how to communicate with others. As clinicians, we need to understand these limitations and not put up artificial barriers to appropriate diagnostic and treatment services. It is hoped that the growing recognition of the predicament of these children will stimulate greater interest in research and treatment. Not only will children with Asperger's syndrome benefit from this, but, by extension, so will all children with developmental disabilities.
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PMID:Asperger's syndrome: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. 204 34


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