| Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA;(2) University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, USA;(3) Department of Psychology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA;(4) Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA;(5) Brown Medical School, E.P. Bradley Hospital, 1011 Veterans Memorial Parkway, East Providence, RI 02915, USA |
| Abstract: | In this study, we assessed the presence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children with a confirmed 22q11.2 deletion (n = 98). The children’s caregivers completed screening measures of ASD behaviors, and for those whose scores indicated significant levels of these behaviors, a standardized diagnostic interview (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised; ADI-R) was administered. Results demonstrated that over 20% of children (n = 22) were exhibiting significant levels of autism spectrum symptoms based on the screening measures. Based upon the ADI-R, 14 children qualified for a diagnosis of an ASD, and for 11 of those children a diagnosis of autism was most appropriate. These findings increase our knowledge of developmental disorders associated with the 22q11.2 deletion and point to avenues for future investigation. |
