BACKGROUND: Psychiatric comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has not been well examined. METHODS: Mood disorders in 44 consecutive outpatients with high-functioning ASD were examined at a university hospital according to DSM-IV. Inclusion criteria were an IQ of 70 or higher on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and age of 12 years or over. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (36.4%) were diagnosed with mood disorder. Of these 16 patients, four were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, two patients as bipolar I disorder, six patients as bipolar II disorder, and four patients as bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. Bipolar disorder accounted for 75% of cases. Twelve patients had Asperger disorder and four patients had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. None of the patients had autistic disorder. LIMITATIONS: The sample size was small. We could not use Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised. Referral bias could not be avoided in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The major comorbid mood disorder in patients with high-functioning ASD is bipolar disorder and not major depressive disorder. The autistic spectrum may share common vulnerability genes with the bipolar spectrum.
BACKGROUND: Psychiatric comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has not been well examined. METHODS:Mood disorders in 44 consecutive outpatients with high-functioning ASD were examined at a university hospital according to DSM-IV. Inclusion criteria were an IQ of 70 or higher on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and age of 12 years or over. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (36.4%) were diagnosed with mood disorder. Of these 16 patients, four were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, two patients as bipolar I disorder, six patients as bipolar II disorder, and four patients as bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. Bipolar disorder accounted for 75% of cases. Twelve patients had Asperger disorder and four patients had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. None of the patients had autistic disorder. LIMITATIONS: The sample size was small. We could not use Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised. Referral bias could not be avoided in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The major comorbid mood disorder in patients with high-functioning ASD is bipolar disorder and not major depressive disorder. The autistic spectrum may share common vulnerability genes with the bipolar spectrum.
Authors: Alyssa Orinstein; Katherine E Tyson; Joyce Suh; Eva Troyb; Molly Helt; Michael Rosenthal; Marianne L Barton; Inge-Marie Eigsti; Elizabeth Kelley; Letitia Naigles; Robert T Schultz; Michael C Stevens; Deborah A Fein Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2015-11
Authors: Xenia Borue; Carla Mazefsky; Brian T Rooks; Michael Strober; Martin B Keller; Heather Hower; Shirley Yen; Mary Kay Gill; Rasim S Diler; David A Axelson; Benjamin I Goldstein; Tina R Goldstein; Neal Ryan; Fangzi Liao; Jeffrey I Hunt; Daniel P Dickstein; Boris Birmaher Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2016-10-04 Impact factor: 8.829