Skip to main content
Log in

Autism and Related Disorders: Epidemiological Findings in a Norwegian Study Using ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent studies of the prevalence of autism have suggested higher estimates than previously described. Various diagnostic criteria for autism and related disorders have been applied, with variability in case finding methodology and characteristics of populations as well. In this study, maternal and child health clinics covering 98% of the population were used for screening pervasive developmental disorders. Extensive medical investigation was carried out on the majority of cases. In this Norwegian population of children ages 3–14 years the minimum prevalence estimate for childhood autism was 4–5 per 10,000 using ICD-10 research criteria, and did not confirm the high estimates suggested more recently. Medical disorders identified were associated with mental retardation rather than specifically with autism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., Rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, A. J. (1993). The biology of autism. Psychological Medicine, 23, 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryson, S. E., Clark, B. S., & Smith, I. M. (1988). First report of a Canadian epidemiological study of autistic syndromes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29, 433–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burd, L., Fisher, W., & Kerbeshian, J. (1987). A Prevalence Study of Pervasive Developmental Disorders in North Dakota. Journal of American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 700–703.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cialdella, P., & Mamelle, N. (1989). An Epidemiological Study of Infantile Autism in a French Department (Rhone): A Research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 165–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehlers, S., & Gillberg, C. (1993). The epidemiology of Asperger's syndrome. A total population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 1327–1350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnvold, J. E. (1996). Kommunale helsetilbud: Organisering, ulikhet og kontinuitet [in Norwegian]. Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E., & du Mazaubrun, C. (1992). Prevalence of infantile autism in four French regions. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 27, 203–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E., Siddons, F., Achard, S., Frith, U., & Happé, F. (1994). Adaptive Behavior and Theory of Mind in Autism. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 3, 176–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C. (1984). Infantile autism and other childhood psychoses in a Swedish urban region. Epidemiological aspects. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 25, 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C., Steffenburg, S., & Schauman, H. (1991). Is autism more common now than ten years ago? British Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 403–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, P. (1991). Child psychiatry. A developmental approach (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krug, D. A., Arick, J., & Almond, P. (1980). Behavior checklist for identifying severely handicapped individuals with high levels of autistic behavior. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21, 221–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V. (1966). Epidemiology of autistic conditions in young children. I. Prevalence. Social Psychiatry, 1, 124–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotter, V. (1967). Epidemiology of Autistic Conditions in Young Children. II. Some Characteristics of Parents and Children. Social Psychiatry, 1, 163–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norges Offentlige Utredninger. (1989). Tjenestetilbud til autister [in Norwegian]. Oslo: Forvaltningstjenestens trykkerier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritvo, E. R., et al. (1989). The UCLA-University of Utah epidemiological survey of autism: Prevalence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 146, 194–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritvo, E. R., Mason-Brothers, A., Freeman, B. J., Ongree, C., Jenson, W., McMahon, W. M., Peterson, P. B., Jorde, B., Mo, A., & Ritvo, A. (1990). The UCLA-University of Utah Epidemiological Survey of Autism: The etiologic role of rare diseases. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 1614–1621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schopler, E., Reichler, R. J., DeVellis, R., & Daly, K. (1980). Toward objective classification of childhood autism: Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10, 91–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sponheim, E. (1996). Changing criteria of autistic disorders: A comparison of the ICD-10 research criteria and DSM-IV with DSM-III-R, CARS, and ABC. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 26, 513–525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sponheim, E., & Spurkland, I. (1996). Diagnosing childhood autism in clinical practice. An interrater reliability study of ICD-10 DSM-III-R, Childhood Autism Rating Scale and Autism Behavior Checklist. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 5–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steffenburg, S., & Gillberg, C. (1986). Autism and autistic-like conditions in Swedish rural and urban areas: A population study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 81–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steffenburg, S. (1991). Neuropsychiatric assessment of children with autism: A population-based study. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 33, 495–511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugiyama, T., & Tokuichiro, A. (1989). The prevalence of autism in Nagoya, Japan: A total population study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 87–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szatmari, P. (1992). A review of the DSM-III-R criteria for autistic disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 507–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanoue, Y., Oda, S., Asano, F., & Kawashima, K. (1988). Epidemiology of Infantile Autism in Southern Ibaraki, Japan: Differences in Prevalence in Birth Cohorts. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 155–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmar, F. R., & Nelson, D. S. (1990). Seizure disorders in autism. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 127–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmar, F. R., Domenic, V., Cicchetti, J. B., & Cohen, J. C. (1992). Three diagnostic systems for autism: DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and ICD-10. Journal of Autism and Developmental disorders, 22, 483–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmar, F. R., Klin, A., Siegel, B., Szatmari, P., Lord, C., Campbell, M., et al. (1994). Field trial for autistic disorder in DSM-IV. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 1361–1367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1993). The definition and prevalence of autism: A review. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2, 61–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L., & Gould, J. (1979). Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: Epidemiology and classification. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9, 11–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (1989). International classification of diseases. Mental and behavioral disorders: Diagnostic criteria for research, (10th ed., draft of chap. 5). Geneva: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (1993). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioral disorders: Diagnostic criteria for research. Geneva: Author.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sponheim, E., Skjeldal, O. Autism and Related Disorders: Epidemiological Findings in a Norwegian Study Using ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria. J Autism Dev Disord 28, 217–227 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026017405150

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026017405150

Navigation