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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 May 4.
Published in final edited form as: Lancet. 2009 Oct 12;374(9701):1627–1638. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61376-3

Table 2.

Comorbid symptoms or disorders

Frequency Treatments
Developmental5
Cognitive; intellectual disability 40–80% Educational
Language deficits 50–63% Communication training, speech and language therapy
Attentional problems, impulsivity,
or hyperactivity
59% Behavioural intervention, psychopharmacotherapy (eg,
stimulants, atomoxetine, or alpha blockers)
Motor delay 9–19% Physical therapy
Hypotonia 50% Physical therapy

Psychiatric22

Anxiety 43–84% Behavioural treatment such as relaxation, cognitive
behavioural treatment, psychopharmacotherapy
(eg, SSRIs or alpha-2 agonists)
Depression 2–30% Psychotherapy, antidepressants
Obsessive compulsive disorder or
interfering repetitive behaviour
37% Behavioural treatment, SSRIs and other drugs such as
atypical antipsychotics
Oppositional defiant disorder 7% Behavioural treatment
Behavioural problems 3% Behavioural treatment

Behavioural23

Disruptive, irritable, or aggressive
behaviour
8–32% Behavioural intervention, atypical antipsychotics (eg,
risperidone or arapiprazole)
Self-injurious behaviour 34% Behavioural intervention; drugs (eg, risperidone,
naltrexone, and others)

Sensory24

Tactile 80–90% Occupational therapy, behavioural treatment, and
desensitisation
Auditory sensitivity 5–47% Occupational therapy

Neurological25

Seizures and epilepsy 5–49% Anticonvulsants
Tics 8–10% Alpha-2 agonists (clonidine and guanfacine) and others
such as atomoxetine

Gastrointestinal26

Food selectivity 30–90% Behavioural treatment, investigation as appropriate for
gastrointestinal difficulties
Gastro-oesophageal reflux,
constipation
8–59% Gastrointestinal investigations as appropriate (eg,
barium swallow or milk scan for gastrooesophageal
reflux; flat plate, clean out, stool softener, or cathartic for
constipation as clinically indicated)

Sleep27

Sleep disruption 52–73% Sleep diary, sleep hygiene, behavioural supports,
investigation of possible medical comorbidities as
cause, drugs (eg, melatonin and clonidine)

SSRI=selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.