International Meeting for Autism Research (May 7 - 9, 2009): Comorbidity of Bipolar Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Comorbidity of Bipolar Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thursday, May 7, 2009
Northwest Hall (Chicago Hilton)
1:30 PM
N. M. Mukaddes , Child Psychaitry, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
S. Herguner , Department of Child Psychiatry,, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
C. Tanidir , Child Psychiatry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Background: The reported rates of Bipolar disorders(BP) in individuals with diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)  have shown great discrepancies, varying between 2.8% to 27% .The difference between the results of these studies seems related with methodological difficulties.
Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the rate of bipolar disorders in   high functioning children and adolescents with diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorders.
Methods: Participants were from a private psychiatry center located in central city in Istanbul and autism clinic of child psychiatry department ,Istanbul School of Medicine.  Ninety –Five individuals ,  65 with diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder(AS) and 30 with diagnosis of autistic disorder(AD) ,age ranged between 6-20 years old(mean age:11.07+/_3.5) were included. Diagnosis of Asperger’s Disorder and Autistic disorder were made based on DSM-IV criteria. Only subjects with full IQ over 70 in WISC-R were included in the  study. Co-morbidity of BP was assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children - Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS - PL). Final diagnosis of BP was made based on Leibenluft’s  “ the narrow phenotype” definition. Therefore, only subjects who meet the full criteria in DSM-IV-TR for hypomania or mania, including the duration criterion and also hallmark symptoms of elevated mood or grandiosity were diagnosed with BPD.
Results: 4  out of the 95 subjects received the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorders(4.2%).All were male.3 out of the 65 subjects with AS (4.4%)and 1 out of the  30 subjects with AD (3.3%)got  the additional diagnosis of BP.
Conclusions: It could be concluded that BP is not a rare co-morbid condition in youth with diagnosis of ASD . Differential diagnosis of BPD disorder in subjects with ASD seems crucial in establishing an effective treatment program, and therefore improving mental health outcomes.
See more of: Poster II
See more of: Poster Presentations