Publications by authors named "Ahlem Belhaj"

Background: Based on the recognized principles of assessment of autistic disorders, the child and adolescent psychiatry department in Razi Hospital developed, in coordination with the department of neurology of Razi Hospital and the department of genetics of Charles Nicolle's Hospital an assessment unit for autism spectrum disorders.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics in terms of severity and comorbidities of children assessed for autism spectrum disorders.

Methods: We compiled data about clinical examination of autistic symptoms using the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) and the Childhood autism Rating Scale (CARS).

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Autism has been reported in untreated patients with phenylketonuria. The authors aimed to explore autism in 15 Tunisian and 4 Algerian phenylketonuria patients, and report their clinical, biochemical and molecular peculiarities. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised were used for the diagnosis of autism.

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The goal of this study is to report on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a chronic disabling condition that often presents during childhood and adolescence. Reports on adults using clonazepam for the treatment of OCD are more numerous than on children. Clonazepam as an augmentative treatment in OCD is still controversial.

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Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment of social interaction, language, communication, and stereotyped, repetitive behavior. Genetic predisposition to autism has been demonstrated in families and twin studies. About 5-10% of autism cases are associated with chromosomal abnormalities or monogenic disorders.

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The high incidence of de novo chromosomal aberrations in a population of persons with autism suggests a causal relationship between certain chromosomal aberrations and the occurrence of isolated idiopathic autism. We report on the clinical and cytogenetic findings in a male patient with autism, no physical abnormalities and a de novo balanced (7;16)(p22.1;p16.

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