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Autism and Autistic-like Conditions in Swedish Rural and Urban Areas: a Population Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Suzanne Steffenburg  and
Christopher Gillberg
Suzanne Steffenburg
Affiliation:
BUP-kliniken, University of Göteborg, Box 7284, S-402 35 Göteborg, Sweden
Christopher Gillberg*
Affiliation:
BUP-kliniken, University of Göteborg, Box 7284, S-402 35 Göteborg, Sweden
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The total population of children under 10 years in one Swedish urban area and one rural area was screened for infantile autism (IA) and autistic-like conditions (AC). A total prevalence of 6.6 per 10 000 was found, which is somewhat higher than in previous similar studies of the same region. Infantile autism accounted for two-thirds of the cases. Boys far outnumbered girls, but this was entirely accounted for by the IA group. The preponderance of autistic boys was less pronounced among the severely mentally retarded children. Mental retardation was seen in almost 90% of cases and only one child had an IQ exceeding 100; clinical and laboratory signs of brain dysfunction were also found in a majority of cases. Distribution by social class was no different in either patient group from the general population.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 149 , Issue 1 , July 1986 , pp. 81 - 87
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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