Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2013; 11(01): 029-034
DOI: 10.3233/JPN-120594
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Cerebral palsy in individuals with a history of Asperger's syndrome: A Danish nationwide register study based on hospital diagnoses

Svend Erik Mouridsen
a   Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
Bente Rich
b   Hødersvej 5, Roskilde, Formerly Associated with the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
Torben Isager
c   Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
› Author Affiliations

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

02 May 2012

27 September 2012

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to compare the prevalence and nature of cerebral palsy (CP) in a diagnosed cohort of individuals with Asperger's syndrome (AS) with general population data. We performed a nationwide, retrospective follow-up study of CP in all people who were born in Denmark during the period January 1, 1980 through June 29, 2006 and registered in the Danish Psychiatric Central Register with AS on February 7, 2011. All 4180 identified patients with AS (3431 males and 749 females) were screened through the nationwide Danish National Hospital Register with respect to CP. Mean age at the end of the observation period was 18.1 yr (range 4–31 yr). Of the 4180 individuals with AS, 27 (0.65%) were registered with at least one CP diagnosis in the Danish National Hospital Register, which is significantly increased (P < 0.0001; odds ratio = 3.9) relative to the general population of Eastern Denmark, where an estimate is 0.17%. These population data lend support to the assumption that the risk of CP is increased in people with AS. Recognition of co-occurring disorders may provide insight into etiology and treatment needs.