Minor neurological dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Aim: The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of brain function in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in relation to minor neurological dysfunctions (MNDs).

Method: We studied MNDs in 122 children (93 males, 29 females; mean age 8 y 1 mo, SD 2 y 6 mo) who, among a total cohort of 705 children (513 males, 192 females; mean age 9 y, SD 2 y 0.5 mo) referred to a regional outpatient non-academic psychiatric centre in the Netherlands, were diagnosed with ASD after an extensive multidisciplinary psychiatric assessment.

Minor neurological dysfunction in children with dyslexia.

Aim: to improve understanding of brain function in children with severe dyslexia in terms of minor neurological dysfunctions (MNDs).

Method: one hundred and four children (81 males, 23 females; age range 7-12y; mean age 9y 7mo, SD 1y 2mo;) with severe dyslexia (the presence of a Full-scale IQ score of ≥ 85, retardation in single-word or text reading of ≥2y), assessed in a department of dyslexia of a third-level regional psychiatric centre, underwent a neurological examination according to Touwen and a multidisciplinary child psychiatric assessment. Special attention was paid to severity and type of MND.

Symptom diagnostics based on clinical records: a tool for scientific research in child psychiatry?

Introduction: Child psychiatric diagnoses are generally based on a clinical examination and not on standardized questionnaires. The present study assessed whether symptom diagnostics based on clinical records facilitates the use of non-standardized clinical material for research.

Method: Six hundred and eighty-five children, referred to a third level child psychiatric centre in the Netherlands, were, after extensive multidisciplinary examination, classified according to the multi-axial classification scheme for psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence (MAC-ICD-9).