Abstract
The case histories of five children, four boys and one girl (1 to 9 years of age), who developed autistic behavior after the onset of infantile spasms, are presented in detail. The patients' initial EEGs disclosed hypsarrhythmia. First onsets of seizures occurred during the second 6 months of life in four and on the third day of life in the youngest whose diagnosis of autism was tentative. Seizures disappeared in one case, persisted in two despite Rx, and subsided in two receiving Dilantin. The possibility of an association between the two disorders is discussed in light of their unknown etiology.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boullin, D. J., Coleman, M. & O'Brien, R. A. Abnormalities in platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine efflux in patients with infantile autism.Nature, 1970,226, 371–372.
Coleman, M., Boullin, D. J., & Davis, M. Serotonin abnormalities in the infantile spasms syndrome.Neurology, 1971,21(4), 421.
Creak, M. Schizophrenic syndrome in childhood: Progress report of working party.Cerebral Palsy Bulletin, 1961,3, 501–504.
Creak, M. Schizophrenic syndrome in childhood: Further progress report of a working party.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 1964,6, 530–535.
DeMyer, M. K., Churchill, D. W., Pontius, W., & Gilkey, K. M. A comparison of five diagnostic systems for childhood schizophrenia and infantile autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1971,1, 175–189.
Finlayson, A. Tuberous sclerosis.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1955,59, 617–628.
Illingsworth, R. S. Sudden mental deterioration with convulsions in infancy.Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1955,30, 529–537.
Jeavons, P. M.,& Bower, B. D.Infantile spasms: A review of the literature and study of 112 cases. London: The Spastics Society in association with William Heinemann Ltd., 1964.
Jervis, G. A. Phenyl pyruvic oligophrenia. In D. Hooker and C. C. Hare (Eds.),Genetics and the inheritance of integrated neurological and psychiatric patterns. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1954.
Kahn, E., & Cohen L. H. Organic driveness: A brain stem syndrome and experience.New England Journal of Medicine, 1934,210, 748–756.
Kanner, L.Child psychiatry. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1965.
Knobloch, H., Rider, R., Harper, P., & Pasamanick, B. Neuropsychiatrie Sequelae of Prematurity.Journal of the American Medical Assocation, 1956,161, 581–585.
Kolvin, I., Ounsted, C., & Roth, M. Cerebral dysfunction and childhood psychosis.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1971,118, 407–414.
Langford, W. S., & Klingman, W. O. Behavior disorders associated with intro-cranial tumors in childhood.American Journal of Diseases of Children, 1942,63, 433–452.
Rogers, M. E., Lilienfeld, A. M., & Pasamanick, B.Prenatal and paranatal factors in the development of childhood behavior disorders. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1956.
Sankar, D. V. S. Biogenic amine uptake by blood platelets and RBC in childhood schizophrenia.Acta Paedopsychiatrica, 1970,37, 174–182.
Yannet, H. The importance of the RH factor in mental deficiency.Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 1944,20, 512–514.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taft, L.T., Cohen, H.J. Hypsarrhythmia and infantile autism: A clinical report. J Autism Dev Disord 1, 327–336 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01557352
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01557352