RESUMO
The utility of the developmental quotient (DQ) obtained with the Psychoeducational Profile Revised (PEP-R) was assessed as a means of estimating cognitive ability in young children with pervasive developmental disorders. Data from the PEP-R were analysed in a sample of 44 children aged from 2.0 to 5.9 years (mean 3.46 ± 1), 13 with an autistic disorder and 31 with a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. DQ scores were compared with scores from the Leiter International Performance Scale Revised-Visualization and Reasoning Battery (Leiter-R) in the same 44 children. Overall and domain DQs on the PEP-R were significantly correlated with Leiter-R scores. This study suggests that DQ scores obtained from the PEP-R in preschool children with pervasive developmental disorders may be a viable alternative to the Leiter-R as an assessment tool.
RESUMO
This study evaluates the correlation between failure to develop spontaneous imitation and language skills in pervasive developmental disorders. Sixty-four children between the age of 3 and 8 years were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), as well as direct observation of imitation. The sample was subdivided into a verbal and a nonverbal group. Analysis of mean scores on the CARS "imitation" items and of ADI-R "spontaneous imitation" and "pointing to express interest" revealed a statistically significant difference between verbal and nonverbal groups, with more severe impairment/higher scores in the nonverbal than the verbal group. These results suggest that nonverbal children have specifically impaired imitation and pointing skills.
RESUMO
Data from the Psychoeducational Profile-Revised (PEP-R) were analysed in a sample of 46 children, aged from 1.7 to 5.11 years, of whom 21 had autistic disorder (AD) and 25 had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Analysis with a t-test for independent samples revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between children with AD and those with PDD-NOS on both developmental and behavioural PEP-R scales, supporting the utility of the PEP-R in discriminating between two diagnostic groups. This study emphasizes the effectiveness of the PEP-R as a tool for the early assessment of children with pervasive developmental disorders.
Assuntos
Transtorno Autístico/diagnóstico , Transtornos Globais do Desenvolvimento Infantil/diagnóstico , Testes Neuropsicológicos/estatística & dados numéricos , Transtorno Autístico/psicologia , Transtornos do Comportamento Infantil/diagnóstico , Transtornos do Comportamento Infantil/psicologia , Transtornos Globais do Desenvolvimento Infantil/psicologia , Pré-Escolar , Transtornos Cognitivos/diagnóstico , Transtornos Cognitivos/psicologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Inteligência , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento da Linguagem/diagnóstico , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento da Linguagem/psicologia , Masculino , Psicometria/estatística & dados numéricos , Valores de Referência , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
This report presents clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging findings in a 7-year-old male with Sydenham's chorea associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Western immunoblotting revealed serum anti-human basal ganglia tissue antibodies. Magnetic resonance imaging results were normal. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging disclosed increased choline/creatine ratio in basal ganglia, frontal, and parieto-occipital areas, and decreased N-acetyl aspartate/creatine ratio in both basal ganglia and frontal areas. Moreover magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a peak between 3.6-4.2 ppm of unclear significance. The findings of this study are compared with the previous magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies reported on Sydenham's chorea and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Magnetic spectroscopic imaging suggests an autoimmune basal ganglia damage in the pathogenesis of Sydenham's chorea and fronto-striatal impairment in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In the present case, the previous history of an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder suggests that this neurobehavioral disorder could be a risk factor for Sydenham's chorea in children with rheumatic fever.
