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Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Sample of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

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Abstract

Objective To evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) problems in a large, well-characterized sample of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Methods One hundred seventy two children entering one of two trials conducted by the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network were assessed comprehensively prior to starting treatment and classified with regard to GI symptoms. Results Thirty nine (22.7%) were positive for GI problems, primarily constipation and diarrhea. Those with GI problems were no different from subjects without GI problems in demographic characteristics, measures of adaptive functioning, or autism symptom severity. Compared to children without GI problems, those with GI problems showed greater symptom severity on measures of irritability, anxiety, and social withdrawal. Those with GI problems were also less likely to respond to treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part of research activities of the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network. The RUPP network was funded by NIMH: N01MH70001 to IU, N01MH80011 to OSU, N01MH70010 to UCLA, N0MH70009 to Yale. We acknowledge the efforts of James Robinson, MED, Shirley Chuang, MS, for data management. The opinions and assertions contained in this report are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, or the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, P.O. Box 207900, New Haven, CT, USA

    Roumen N. Nikolov, Karen E. Bearss & Lawrence Scahill

  2. University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Jelle Lettinga

  3. Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Craig Erickson, Christopher J. McDougle & David J. Posey

  4. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Maria Rodowski & Elaine Tierney

  5. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Michael G. Aman & L. Eugene Arnold

  6. University of California, California, Los Angeles, USA

    James T. McCracken & Bhavik Shah

  7. National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH), Bethesda, MD, USA

    Benedetto Vitiello & Louise Ritz

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  1. Roumen N. Nikolov
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  2. Karen E. Bearss
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Correspondence to Lawrence Scahill.

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Nikolov, R.N., Bearss, K.E., Lettinga, J. et al. Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Sample of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 405–413 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0637-8

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