Pervasive developmental disorders in individuals with cerebral palsy

Disability as a risk factor? Development of psychopathology in children with disabilities

Empirical research has established that children with disabilities are more likely to develop psychopathology than children without disabilities. But too little is known about the association between disability and psychopathology. The aim of this article is to discuss developmental psychopathological models that conceptualise the connection between childhood disability and psychopathology. Empirical studies of psychopathology among children with a congenital hearing impairment and children with cerebral palsy will be reviewed, representing in-depth examples of association between disability and psychopathology. Both a congenital hearing impairment and cerebral palsy were found to be dominating risk factors for all types of psychopathology, but no relationship was identified between degree of disability and risk of psychopathology. The higher risk cannot be explained by biological impairments alone. To explain the contradictory findings, developmental models of disability and psychopathology are applied. Within a multi-factorial developmental psychopathological perspective and a dialectical model of disability (Vygotsky, 1993), it is suggested that disability can be understood as an incongruence between the individual development of the child and demands and expectations in the specific relations and institutions in which the child participates. This incongruence creates and strengthens negative factors for the child with disability and results in a higher risk of psychopathology.

Repetitive/restricted behaviours and interests in children with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder

OBJECTIVE

To inspect the presence and severity of deficits in restricted and/or repetitive behaviours and interests (RRBIs) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

METHODS

Children studied (18-35 months of age) belonged to one of three diagnostic groups: children with CP and autism (n = 11), children with CP and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS; n = 10) and children with a sole diagnosis of CP (n = 15). A one-way, between subjects ANOVA was conducted on the Repetitive Behaviour/Restricted Interests domain of the Baby and Infant Screen for aUtIsm Traits-Part 1 (BISCUIT-Part 1) and followed up with post-hoc tests. Percentage endorsements were also calculated for each item of this domain.

RESULTS

Children with CP + autism had significantly greater impairment. No significant differences were found between the CP + PDD-NOS and the CP alone groups.

CONCLUSION

The implications of these findings are discussed.