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Pervasive developmental disorders

What are pervasive developmental disorders in bipolar disorder?

The prevalence of pervasive developmental disorders in the general population is around 0.5%. They are a group of conditions that are characterised by abnormal development in social interactions, communication, behavioural flexibility and repetitive patterns of behaviour and activities. These are core features of autism and are usually apparent by the age of 2 to 4 years. Autism involves impaired socialisation, poor communication and behavioural inflexibility, whereas Asperger’s syndrome involves an absence of an intellectual disability. Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified shares the socialisation symptoms of autism but allows for atypical presentations.

What is the evidence for comorbid pervasive developmental disorders in bipolar disorder?

Moderate to low quality evidence suggests that the co-occurrence of autism spectrum and bipolar disorders is between 7% and 19%.

October 2021

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Last updated at: 12:48 am, 21st October 2021
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