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Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Children with Autism: Interview Development and Rates of Disorders

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Abstract

The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was modified for use in children and adolescents with autism by developing additional screening questions and coding options that reflect the presentation of psychiatric disorders in autism spectrum disorders. The modified instrument, the Autism Comorbidity Interview-Present and Lifetime Version (ACI-PL), was piloted and frequently diagnosed disorders, depression, ADHD, and OCD, were tested for reliability and validity. The ACI-PL provides reliable DSM diagnoses that are valid based on clinical psychiatric diagnosis and treatment history. The sample demonstrated a high prevalence of specific phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and ADHD. The rates of psychiatric disorder in autism are high and are associated with functional impairment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by several grants including PO1/U19 DC 03610 (HTF) and PO1/U19 HD 035476 (JEL), which are both part of the NICHD/NIDCD Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism, and RO1 MH 55135 (SEF). Dr. Lainhart also thanks the Utah Autism Foundation and Valley Mental Health for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Ovsanna T. Leyfer

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Susan E. Folstein

  3. MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Susan Bacalman

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA

    Naomi O. Davis

  5. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Naomi O. Davis & Helen Tager-Flusberg

  6. Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Elena Dinh, Jubel Morgan & Janet E. Lainhart

  7. Utah Autism Research Program, 421 Wakara Way, Suite 143, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA

    Janet E. Lainhart

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  1. Ovsanna T. Leyfer
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  2. Susan E. Folstein
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  3. Susan Bacalman
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  8. Janet E. Lainhart
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Correspondence to Janet E. Lainhart.

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Leyfer, O.T., Folstein, S.E., Bacalman, S. et al. Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Children with Autism: Interview Development and Rates of Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 36, 849–861 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0123-0

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