Sociodemographic and clinical profile of children with autism spectrum disorders – An observational study from a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In spite of advances in assessment and management of patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the west, developing countries including India are lagging far behind in child psychiatry, let alone ASDs. The aims of our study were to find the sociodemographic and clinical profile of children with ASDs in a child psychiatry clinic of a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to record the sociodemographic status. The diagnosis of ASDs was made on the basis of both 4th Edition, Text Revision and 5th Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR and DSM-V), after a thorough clinical assessment. Intelligence quotient was assessed by a clinical psychologist. Descriptive statistical analysis was done and presented as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were diagnosed with ASDs. Most of the patients were <9 years with 52.73% in 4–7 years' age group and 21.82% in 7–9 years' age group. Males (78.18%) outnumbered females. About 52.73% belonged to nuclear family, and 63.63% were from rural background. Nearly 70.91% were staying at home. About 87.27% with ASDs as per DSM-IV-TR met the DSM-V symptom criteria for ASDs, whereas 12.73% met DSM-V symptom criteria for social communication disorder. CONCLUSION: Almost 10.4% of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders were having ASDs. Only 3% of our cases were receiving inclusive education, and about 70% of cases were staying at home. Nearly 87.27% of DSM-IV-diagnosed ASDs retained the DSM-V diagnosis of ASDs. Comorbid intellectual disability was frequently seen in children with ASDs.

Keywords

• autism spectrum disorders
• intellectual disability
• social communication disorder