What Factors are Related to a Negative Outcome of Self-Injurious Behaviour During Childhood in Pervasive Developmental Disorders?

Provides clinical descriptions diagnostic guidelines and codes for all mental and behavioural disorders commonly encountered in clinical psychiatry. The book was developed from chapter V of the Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). The clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines were finalized after field testing by over 700 clinicians and researchers in 110 institutes in 40 countries making this book the product of the largest ever research effort designed to improve psychiatric diagnosis. Every effort has been made to define categories whose existence is scientifically justifiable as well as clinically useful. The classification divides disorders into ten groups according to major common themes or descriptive likeness a new feature which makes for increased convenience of use. For each disorder the book provides a full description of the main clinical features and all other important but less specific associated features. Diagnostic guidelines indicate the number balance and duration of symptoms usually required before a confident diagnosis can be made. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are also provided together with conditions to be considered in differential diagnosis. The guidelines are worded so that a degree of flexibility is retained for diagnostic decisions in clinical work particularly in the situation where provisional diagnosis may have to be made before the clinical picture is entirely clear or information is complete. ... As befitting a publication of considerable influence the amount of work that went into preparing ICD-10 has been formidable... - The International Journal of Social Psychiatry

Prevalence rates of autism-spectrum disorders are uncertain, and speculation that their incidence is increasing continues to cause concern. To estimate the prevalence of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) in a geographically defined population of preschool children. Survey conducted July 1998 to June 1999 in Staffordshire, England. The area's 15 500 children aged 2.5 to 6.5 years were screened for developmental problems. Children with symptoms suggestive of a PDD were intensively assessed by a multidisciplinary team, which conducted standardized diagnostic interviews and administered psychometric tests. Prevalence estimates for subtypes of PDDs. A total of 97 children (79.4% male) were confirmed to have a PDD. The prevalence of PDDs was estimated to be 62.6 (95% confidence interval, 50.8-76.3) per 10 000 children. Prevalences were 16.8 per 10 000 for autistic disorder and 45.8 per 10 000 for other PDDs. The mean age at diagnosis was 41 months, and 81% were originally referred by health visitors (nurse specialists). Of the 97 children with a PDD, 25.8% had some degree of mental retardation and 9.3% had an associated medical condition. Our results suggest that rates of PDD are higher than previously reported. Methodological limitations in existing epidemiological investigations preclude interpretation of recent high rates as indicative of increased incidence of these disorders although this hypothesis requires further rigorous testing. Attention is nevertheless drawn to the important needs of a substantial minority of preschool children.