Asperger Disorder(AD):Co-existance with Other Psychiatric Disorders

Background: Despite the presence of significant psychiatric comorbidity among individuals with AD, a limited number of researches have been done regarding this topic.

Objectives: To provide clinical data on comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in subjects with diagnosis of AD.

Methods: Thirty seven subjects (32 male and five female, age range: 6-20 years old, mean age: 10.9 years ) with diagnosis of AD according to DSM-IV criteria were evaluated and followed up for 1-5 years. Fourteen (3 female, 11 male) out of 37 were postpubertal individuals. Comorbidity was assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children - Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS - PL).

Results: Thirty five out of 37 subjects (90%) had at least one additional psychiatric disorder. The most common psychiatric disorders in this group were ADHD (45%), Obsessive compulsive diaorder (29%), Major depressive disorder (29%), Tic Disorders (18%).In addition, a wide variety of other psychiatric disorders were seen in this group.While ADHD (54%) was the most common additional diagnosis in prepubertal children, major depression (%50) and OCD(%50) were the most common disorders in adolescents. Six out of 14 adolescents displayed either severe suicide ideation, or suicide attempts. Three out of 6 subjects with suicide attempts were female.

Conclusions: The rates of psychiatric disorders in this group seem higher than previous studies. The high rates of comorbidity in this group may reflect a referral bias; individual with multiple disorders and consequently greater impairment are more likely to search treatment. Therefore, they need a more varied treatment approach.