Article

The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of brain function in
children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in relation to minor neurological
dysfunctions (MNDs). METHOD: We studied MNDs in 122 children (93 males, 29
females; mean age 8 y 1 mo,
SD 2 y 6 mo) who, among a total cohort of 705
children (513 males, 192 females; mean age 9 y, SD 2 y 0.5 mo) referred to a
regional outpatient non-academic psychiatric centre in the Netherlands, were
diagnosed with ASD after an extensive multidisciplinary psychiatric assessment.
Children with clear neurological abnormalities (e.g. cerebral palsy or spina
bifida) were excluded from the study. MNDs were assessed in all 705 children
using the Touwen examination method. Special attention was paid to the severity
and type of MND. Data of the children with ASD were compared with neurological
morbidity data of children with other psychiatric disorders and with children in
the general population, who were born at Groningen University Hospital between
1975 and 1978. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of the children with ASD showed
complex MNDs compared with 52% of the children with other psychiatric disorders
and 6% of the reference group (chi(2) =18.0, p<0.001; chi(2) =937.5, p<0.001
respectively). Specific dysfunctions frequently encountered in ASD were
dysfunctional posture and muscle tone, fine manipulative disability,
dyscoordination, and excessive associated movements. CONCLUSION: These findings
suggest a contribution of dysfunctional supraspinal networks involving multiple
parts of the brain in the pathogenesis of ASD. This is consistent with findings
from neuroimaging studies, and highlights the importance of neurological
examinations in paediatric psychiatric assessments.
CI - (c) The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (c) 2011 Mac Keith
Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS