Autism is characterised by high comorbidity. It is most often accompanied by:
- anxiety disorders;
- mood disorders
- sleep disorders;
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Autism spectrum disorder can also co-occur with neurological conditions such as:
- epilepsy;
- Landau-Kleffner syndrome;
- syndromes with continuous slow-wave sleep discharges.
It is not uncommon for autistics to also suffer from phenylketonuria and food allergies.
It is estimated that 70-80% of autistic people have additional psychiatric problems. Approximately 40-50% of adolescents and adults with ASD meet criteria for two or more disorders. Accompanying psychiatric problems are one of the causes of behavioural disorders, especially in the form of aggression, self-aggression or oppositional behaviour. It is not uncommon for them to be the reason for the patient’s and their family’s first (pre ASD diagnosis) contact with a specialist.
Source:
- https://www.damian.pl/zdrowie-psychiczne/autyzm/
