Autism Spectrum Disorders

Question 1

two main characteristics

Answer 1

severe qualitative impairments (not just delay) of social interaction/communication and restricted/repetitive behavior

Question 2

repetitive patters of behavior (need 2)

Answer 2

repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, restricted interests or focus, hyper or hyporeactivity to sensory input

Question 3

additional specifiers

Answer 3

with or without intellectual impairment, language impairment. Associated with medical/genetic/environmental factor. Catatonia

Question 4

genetics of autism

Answer 4

highly genetic. advanced maternal/paternal age

Question 5

gross neurological findings

Answer 5

larger brains (esp white matter, cortex, limbic). Asymmetries, ventricular enlargement, lower interconnectivity

Question 6

Four disorder now grouped under Autism spectrum

Answer 6

autistic, asperger’s, Rett’s, childhood disintegrative disorder

Question 7

rett’s disorder

Answer 7

x linked, seen only in girls (males die in utero). Complete developmental regression seen around age 1-4. Hand wringing.