Psychiatric comorbities associated with autistic spectrum disorder in children attended at a specialized center in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To understand the main psychiatric comorbidities associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children treated at a specialized center in the city of Santarém, Pará. Methods: This is an observational, quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional research, based on a review of electronic medical records, with a sample of 28 patients up to six years of age. The research was carried out at the Santarém Association of Parents and Friends of Disabled People (APAE) and the information gathered by the data collection form was organized in the Microsoft Excel® 2016 program. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: A predominance of males was identified with 75% and comorbidities related to ASD were found to include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 50%, Sleep-Wake Disorder in 42,85%, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Intellectual Development Disorder (ID) with 14,28%, Speech or Language Development Disorder (DLD) with 10,71%, Schizophrenia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Personality Disorder and Related Traits with 3,57%. Of the participants, 35,71% had two or more concomitant comorbidities. Conclusion: The data analyzed suggest a strong relationship between ASD and other psychiatric comorbidities at the research site, mainly with ADHD, in line with other studies.