Abstract
This study describes the characteristics of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) receiving treatment in community mental health settings. Data from a national community mental health initiative was used to identify children who had received a primary diagnosis of ASD. These children were compared with children with other diagnoses on socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics, presenting problems and service histories. Regardless of diagnosis, children were most often referred to service because of disruptive behaviors. Children with ASD were less likely to be referred for drug use, truancy or running away, but were more likely to be referred for social interaction difficulties and strange behavior. Many children had family histories of mental illness, substance abuse and domestic violence. Implications of these findings are discussed in detail.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Aman K. Langworthy (2000) ArticleTitlePharmacotherapy for hyperactivity in children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders 30 IssueID5 451–459
R. Ammerman M. Hersen ParticleVan V. Hesselt M. Lubetsky W. Sieck (1994) ArticleTitleMaltreatment in psychiatricaly hospitalized children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: prevalence and correlates Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 33 IssueID4 567–576
R. Ammerman V. Van Hasselt M. Hersen J. McGonigle M. Lubetsky (1989) ArticleTitleAbuse and neglect in psychiatrically hospitalized multihandicapped children Child Abuse & Neglect, 13 335–343
A. Angold S. Messer D. Stangl E. Farmer E. Costello B. Burns (1998) ArticleTitlePerceived parental burden and service use for child and adolescent psychiatric disorders American Journal of Public Health 88 IssueID1 75–80
InstitutionalAuthorNameAmerican Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, EditionNumberFourth Edition. American Psychiatric Association Washington, DC
A. Birenbaum D. Guyot H. Cohen (1990) ArticleTitleHealth care financing for severe developmental disabilities Monographs of the American Association on Mental Retardation 14 1–150
S. Bryson (1996) ArticleTitleEpidemiology of autism - Brief report Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 26 165–167
InstitutionalAuthorNameCenter for Mental Health Services (1999) Annual report to Congress on the Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program ORC Macro Atlanta, GA
E. Cook J. Kieffer D. Charak B. Leventhal (1993) ArticleTitleAutistic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 32 IssueID6 1292–1294
R. Eisenmajer M. Prior S. Leekam L. Wing J. Gould M. Welham B. Ong (1996) ArticleTitleComparison of clinical symptoms in autism and Asperger’s disorder Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 35 IssueID11 1523–1531
M. Fendrich T. Johnson J. Wislar C. Nageotte (1999) ArticleTitleAccuracy of parent mental health service reporting: results from a reverse record-check study Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 38 IssueID2 147–155
P. Filipek P. Accardo S. Ashwal G. Baranek E. Cook G. Dawson B. Gordon J. Gravel C. Johnson R. Kallen S. Levy N. Minshew S. Ozonoff B. Prizant I. Rapin S. Rogers W. Stone S. Teplin R. Tuchman F. Volkmar (2000) ArticleTitlePractice Parameter: screening and diagnosis of autism Neurology 55 468–479
S. Folstein B. Rosen-Sheidley (2001) ArticleTitleGenetics of autism: complex aetiology for a heterogeneous disorder Nature Reviews Genetics 2 IssueID12 943–955
A. Hill S. Bolte G. Petrova D. Beltcheva S. Tacheva F. Poustka (2001) ArticleTitleStability and interpersonal agreement of the interview-based diagnosis of autism Psychopathology 34 IssueID4 187–191
E. Holden R. Friedman R. Santiago (2001) ArticleTitleOverview of the National Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 9 IssueID1 4–12
P. Howlin J. Clements (1995) ArticleTitleIs it possible to assess the impact of abuse on children with pervasive developmental disorders? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 25 IssueID4 337–354
J. Jacobson J. Mulick (2000) ArticleTitleSystem and cost research issues in treatments for people with autistic disorders Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders 30 IssueID6 585–593
K. Jarbrink M. Knapp (2001) ArticleTitleThe economic impact of autism in Britain Autism 5 IssueID1 7–22
W. Mahoney P. Szatmari J. MacLean S. Bryson G. Bartolucci S. Walter M. Jones L. Zwaigenbaum (1998) ArticleTitleReliability and accuracy of differentiating pervasive developmental disorder subtypes Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 37 IssueID3 278–285
D. Mandell J. Listerud S. Levy J. Pinto-Martin (2002) ArticleTitleRace Differences in the Age of Diagnosis among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 41 IssueID12 1447–1453
J. Matson D. Benavidez L. Compton T. Paclawskyj C. Baglio (1996) ArticleTitleBehavioral treatment of autistic persons: a review of research from 1980 to the present Research in Developmental Disabilities 17 IssueID6 433–465
S. Mourridsen B. Rich T. Isager (1999) ArticleTitlePsychiatric morbidity in disintegrative psychosis and infantile autism: a long-term follow-up study Psychopathology 32 IssueID4 177–183
J. Palfrey J. Singer D. Walker J. Butler (1987) ArticleTitleEarly identification of children’s special needs: a study in five metropolitan communities Journal of Pediatrics 111 IssueID5 651–659
M. Perkins S. Wolkind (1991) ArticleTitleAsperger’s syndrome: who is being abused? Archives of Disease in Childhood 66 IssueID6 693–695
S. Roberts E. Garralda D. Renfrew (2001) ArticleTitleSchizotypal disorder among child and adolescent mental health service users Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 40 IssueID12 1366
B. Stroul R. Friedman (1986) A system of care for severely emotionally disturbed children and youth Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center Washington, DC
D. Tharinger C. Horton S. Millea (1990) ArticleTitleSexual abuse and exploitation of children and adults with mental retardation and other handicaps Child Abuse & Neglect 14 IssueID3 301–312
InstitutionalAuthorNameU.S. Department of Education (2001) Twenty-third annual report to congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Bureau of Special Education Jessup, MD
F. Volkmar E. Cook J. Pomeroy G. Realmuto P. Tanguay (1999) ArticleTitlePractice Parameters for the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and adults with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 38 IssueID12 Suppl 32S–54S
C. Walrath R. Miech E. Holden R. Santiago P. Leaf (2003) ArticleTitleChild Functioning in Rural and Non-Rural Systems of Care Journal of Behavioral Health Services Research 30 IssueID4 452–461
L. Wing (1993) ArticleTitleThe definition and prevalence of autism: A review European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2 61–74
P. Wu C. Hoven H. Bird R. Moore P. Cohen M. Alegria M. Dulcan S. Goodman S. Horwitz J. Lichtman W. Narrow D. Rae D. Regier M. Roper (1999) ArticleTitleDepressive and disruptive disorders and mental health service utilization in children and adolescents Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 38 IssueID9 1081–1090
M. Yeargin-Allsopp C. Rice T. Karapurkar N. Doernberg C. Boyle C. Murphy (2003) ArticleTitlePrevalence of autism in a US metropolitan area Journal of the American Medical Association 289 IssueID1 49–55
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mandell, D.S., Walrath, C.M., Manteuffel, B. et al. Characteristics of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders Served in Comprehensive Community-based Mental Health Settings. J Autism Dev Disord 35, 313–321 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-3296-z
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-3296-z