[Autism and intelligence quotient: stability?] / Autismo y cociente intelectual: estabilidad?

INTRODUCTION: Autism is a heterogeneous disorder. The possibility of determining its characteristics over time will have a great impact on the prognosis and predictions that can be made. In that regard, the intelligence quotient and its possible stability throughout the life cycle can help to better define the phenotype of the disorder and its associated needs. DEVELOPMENT: Longitudinal studies show a certain level of stability in intelligence quotient scores, especially starting from the school years. Before, in the preschool stage, there is greater variability, especially in those children who have a borderline intellectual functioning or moderate intellectual disability. CONCLUSION: More research should continue to be developed to know the cognitive profile of people with autism spectrum disorder and be able to make predictions based on their intellectual functioning.

TITLE: Autismo y cociente intelectual: estabilidad?Introduccion. El autismo es un trastorno heterogeneo. La posibilidad de determinar sus caracteristicas a lo largo del tiempo tendra una gran repercusion en el pronostico y las predicciones que se puedan hacer. En ese sentido, el cociente intelectual y su posible estabilidad a lo largo del ciclo vital pueden ayudar a definir mejor el fenotipo del trastorno y sus necesidades asociadas. Desarrollo. Los estudios longitudinales muestran cierta estabilidad en las puntuaciones del cociente intelectual, sobre todo a partir de los años escolares. Antes, en la etapa preescolar, existe mayor variabilidad, especialmente en aquellos niños que tienen un funcionamiento intelectual limite o discapacidad intelectual moderada. Conclusion. Debe seguirse desarrollando mas investigacion para conocer el perfil cognitivo de las personas con trastorno del espectro autista y poder realizar predicciones a partir de su funcionamiento intelectual.

[The autistic spectrum. An epidemiological study and analysis of possible subgroups]. / Espectro autista. Estudio epidemiológico y análisis de posibles subgrupos.

INTRODUCTION: Although the concept of autistic spectrum may be useful to explain and describe the heterogeneity of the syndrome, its aetiology is still unknown. Different disorders have been reported as the biological basis of autism. Early diagnosis and a multi disciplinary approach to the condition are essential for effective psychopaedagogic treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a relationship between the severity of the syndrome of autism and the course of the disorder, as a function of the presence or absence of neurological features, and to define homogeneous subgroups by detecting etiological variables which may be common to them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 46 children defined as being within the spectrum of autism, in whom the diagnosis was confirmed on the autistic spectrum inventory (IDEA/Rivi re 97). Parameters studied: family history, perinatal risk, age of onset, complementary investigations and neurological features. RESULTS: The diagnosis was confirmed in 18 children; of the others 14 had a specific defect of the development of language. There was an almost complete absence of underlying neurological disorders, although this may have been due to dispersion of the complementary investigations done. CONCLUSIONS: Specific disorders of the development of language are the main differential diagnoses to be considered together with the autistic spectrum. The diagnosis of autism is clinical, but the heterogeneity of the medical approach interferes with the overall assessment of the spectrum favoring behavioural and underestimating the biological aspects. This means that the problem should be reconsidered so as to obtain uniform guidelines for action.

[Alexithymia and Asperger syndrome]. / Alexitimia y síndrome de Asperger.

INTRODUCTION: The study starts with the hypothesis that the difficulty to identify and describe emotions and feelings, and to differentiate the feelings of bodily sensations that accompany them, are a common denominator of the construct of alexithymia and Asperger syndrome (AS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study evaluates the levels of alexithymia in nine adult male subjects with AS. RESULTS: The results are classified according to whether the source of information is the subject itself with SA (significant alexithymia level in 2/3 parts of the subjects surveyed) or if the source is a relative (the final score in relation to the presence of the alexithymia is the double than in neurotypical population). CONCLUSION: It's confirmed a significant comorbidity between alexithymia and SA leading to the question of whether alexithymia is a idiosyncratic trait of individuals with SA.