[The clinic of autistic disorders at an early age]

OBJECTIVE

To study disorders of mental development and psychopathological symptoms in young children with autistic disorders of various origins.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two hundred and sixty-five children, aged 9 months to 4 years, (201 boys, 64 girls) with symptoms of autistic disorder were examined. The patients were divided into two age groups - the 1st group consisted of 36 children, aged 9 months to 2 years, the 2nd group consisted of 229 children from 2 years to 4 years. Psychopathological, neurological and clinical-dynamic methods were used, taking into account the results of consultations with a speech therapist, defectologist, psychologist.

RESULTS

The number of visits to a psychiatrist by parents of children older than two years becomes significantly higher - 13.6% (n=36) and 86.4% (n=112), respectively (p≤0.05), as well as the diagnosis of autistic disorder - 8.3% (n=3) and 16.2% (n=37) respectively, p≤0.05). In both age groups, the diagnosis of «Other general developmental disorders» (F84.8) was most often established, with a significant predominance in the younger group - 80.5% and 72%, respectively (p≤0.05). Characteristic symptoms-markers of autism for both age groups are highlighted. It is shown that the diagnoses of childhood autism, Kanner syndrome, exposed at the first treatment, were preserved in all patients after three years. By the age of four, it was possible to clarify the diagnosis in 32% of cases. At the same time, 68% of patients, aged 4 years, retained a clinically undifferentiated diagnosis of F84.8.

CONCLUSION

The study showed an increase in the diagnosis of autistic disorder during the first years of life. The necessity of increasing the knowledge of early-age psychiatry among specialists and the organization of a system of early detection, timely treatment and rehabilitation of autistic disorders in children of the first years of life in children's polyclinics is noted.