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ABSTRACTS / 27TH NORDIC PSYCHIATRIC CONGRESS I
s-XVII/2 Friday 15/8,11:00-12:30
The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and the
Childhood Autism Rating Scale: Convergence and
discrepancy in Diagnosing Autism
E'ald Sii’inundscn, Psychologist, State Diagnostic and Counseling Centcr, Digranes-
vegur 5,2(X) Kópavogur, Iceland. P Magnússon, J Smári, S Sigurðardóttir
evald@greining. is
The agreement between the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised
(ADI-R) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was
investigated in the diagnostic assessment of 54 children referred for
possible autism. The sources of information for the ADI-R and the
CARS were totally separate and raters using the instruments were
blind to each other's results. Significant correlations were found
between the total score on the CARS and the three ADI-R domain
scores, supporting concurrent validity of the two instruments.
Observed agreement between the two systems was 66.7% (kappa =
•40) when the ADI-R definition for autism was applied (i.e., scores
reaching cutoff in three domains on the ADI-R) but increased
considerably (83.3%; kappa = .66) with less stringent criteria
(scores reaching cutoff in two dontains on the ADI-R). Almost
perfect agreement (kappa = .87) was found when criteria were still
less stringent (scores reaching cut-off in one domain on the ADI-
R). Children classified as autistic according to both instruments had
significantly lower IQ/DQ and more severe autistic symptomato-
logy than those classified with the CARS only. The results of this
study indicate that the CARS represents a broader diagnostic con-
cept of autism than the ADI-R.
S-XVII/3 Friday 15/8,11:00-12:30
Follow-up of children diagnosed with pervasive
developmental disorders according to ICD-10: Stability
and change during the preschool years
Sigríftur Lóa Júnsdóttir. Psychologist, The State Diagnostic and Counseling Centcr,
Digranesvegur 5, Kópavogur, Iccland. Sæmundsen E, Hjartardóttir S, Ásgeirsdóttir BB,
Smáradóttir HH. Sigurðardóttir S.
s‘Sridurloa@greining.is
There are two important interacting variables present in all outcome
studies on autism that hinder any firm conclusions when comparing
results over time. First, is the constant development of services that
strive to improve the likelihood that individuals with autism become
'ntegrated into the mainstream society. Second, is the increased
knowledge in the field of autism that is partly reflected in revisions of
definitions of autism, classification schemes, and changing
ePidemiology of autism, which is no longer considered a rare
disorder. Hence, it is of importance to gather consistently new data
°n outcome in autism. The present study purports to address this
issue in assessing the stability and change in children with autism and
related disorders during the preschool years. Participants were
Icelandic children in four age cohorts, who were diagnosed with
Pervasive developmental disorders according to ICD-10 during the
Preschool period (Time 1) and evaluated again before school start
around 6 years of age (Time 2). Forty-eight children met intake
criteria. Preliminary outcome data will be presented on behavioural
characteristics of autism, classification, adaptive behaviour, cognitive
and language development, as well as associated medical conditions.
S-XVII/4 Friday 15/8,11:00-12:30
Prevalence of autistic symptoms among children diag-
nosed with ADHD: A comparison between five clinical
groups
Urftur Njarftvík. PhD, Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Landspítali University
Hospital, Dalbraut 12,105 Reykjavík, Iceland. Guðmundur Arnkelsson, Páll Magnús-
son, María Guðsteinsdóttir.
urdurnja@landspitali.is
Background: Recent studies suggest an overlap in symptoms
between ADHD and pervasive developmental disorders (Gillberg,
1991; Clarke et al. 1999) but do not include other clinical groups for
comparison.
Aims: The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between
ADHD and pervasive developmental disorders by comparing the
prevalence of autistic symptoms in ADHD and mood/anxiety dis-
orders.
Mcthod: Parents of 84 children filled out the Autism Spectrum
Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and the Strengths and Difficul-
ties Questionnaire (SDQ). Of the 84 children, 37 were diagnosed
with ADHD, 14 with Autistic Disorder, 14 with PDD-NOS, 7 with
Asperger’s Syndrome, and 12 with mood and/or anxiety disorders.
Results: Children diagnosed with ADHD showed higher frequency
of autistic symptoms, as measured on the ASSQ, than children
diagnosed with mood and anxiety disorders. ADHD and Autistic
Disorder could not be differentiated by the ASSQ, but appeared as
a distinct group when SDQ was added to the equation.
Condusion: The results indicate a high frequency of severe social
skills deficits in ADHD and a considerable overlap in symptoms
with pervasive developmental disorders. With these two distinct but
related diagnostic categories, a routine screening for autistic symp-
toms among children being evaluated for ADHD should be con-
sidered.
S- XVII /5 Friday 15/8,11:00-12:30
“What is it like”: The experience of mothers of children
with autism
Sólveig Guðlaugsdóttir, psychiatric nurse and family thcrapisl, Dept. of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry. Dalbraut 12,104 Reykjavík, Iceland
solveigg@landspitali. is
The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of mothers
of autistic children and gain new perspective of how parents and
professionals work together.
Tlie methodology used was hermeneutic phenomenology.
Data consisted of transcripts from in-dept interviews with ten
Icelandic mothers of children with autism. Themes of the trans-
cribed interviews were grouped into five categories.
The fmdings revealed that the participants experienced themselves
as being alone in the period of the discovery of the child’s handicap.
Even though the participants saw their role as caretakers for their
child as a never-ending responsibility they all saw the importance of
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