Peer-reviewed article
Comorbidity of autism with hyperkinetic disorder
Koval-Zaytsev A, Simashkova N, Ivanov M ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined 102 children aged 6-7 years with both autism spectrum disorder and hyperkinetic disorder to understand how these conditions co-occur. The researchers used clinical assessments and psychological tests to measure autism severity, attention, motor skills, and cognitive development. They found that hyperkinetic symptoms appeared in 72% of children with autism, particularly during recovery from severe catatonia, and that affected children showed difficulties with attention, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Key points
- Autism severity measured at 46 points on the CARS scale in the surveyed population
- Hyperkinetic disorder manifestations found in 72% of patients with childhood autism
- Secondary hyperkinetic disorder appears during remission from severe catatonia
- Children showed low performance in involuntary attention, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination
- Cognitive development varied, with some children showing advanced, normative, or delayed development depending on the type of cognitive dysontogenesis
Limitations
The document does not specify the country or region where the study was conducted. The study is descriptive and cross-sectional, so it cannot establish causal relationships or identify the long-term outcomes of children with this comorbidity.
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorders encompass a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism may be accompanied by other mental and neurological disorders. Comorbidity in autism is the rule rather than the exception (as reflected in DSM-5). Objectives To study comorbidity in patients with childhood autism and hyperkinetic disorder. Methods Surveyed 102 patients aged 6–7 years who had infantile psychosis before the age of 3 years (F84.02), comorbid with hyperkinetic disorder (F90.0). Methods: clinical, psychological and psychometric (CARS, PEP, bfcrs, CGI, CPRS-R:S (parents’ form)). Results In the surveyed patients, the autism level was 46 points according to CARS. Manifestations of hyperkinetic disorder in patients with F84.02 are found in 72%, which is associated with the severity of catatonic arousal (BFCRS 36 points). The cognitive development of the examined children is characterized by a combination of advancing, normative and delayed levels of development, depending on the type of cognitive dysontogenesis. Low indicators are revealed in involuntary attention, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. In patients with F84.02, a secondary hyperkinetic disorder forms upon exit from severe catatonia. Conclusions Excessive motor activity is combined with impulsiveness and impaired attention in the period of remission. The use of a complex of clinical and psychodiagnostic techniques aimed at assessing voluntary and involuntary attention provides additional data for the diagnosis of ASD and hyperkinetic disorders.