Abstract
Background: Children with multiple complex developmental disorder (MCDD) have been
distinguished from autistic children on the basis of chart reviews. It was questioned
whether it is possible to find other, e.g., event-related potential (ERP), evidence
for this assertion.
Methods: ERPs were measured in response to stimuli in a visual oddball task in autistic,
MCDD, attention deficit disorder, dyslexic, and normal control children, to study
whether ERP peaks can be used to distinguish autistic and MCDD children, and to classify
the aforementioned groups.
Results: It was found that the P3 at four different leads and the frontal Nc showed
differences among the groups, and that the autistic and MCDD groups differed from
each other as well as from the other groups. Also, it was found that, using discriminant
analyses in which these parameters were included, children were classified above chance
level. Especially in the MCDD group, a high percentage of correct classification was
seen.
Conclusions: ERP parameters indicate that autistic and MCDD children might differ
in underlying pathology and might therefore, better be regarded as two separate diagnostic
entities.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 10,
1998
Received in revised form:
December 3,
1998
Received:
June 22,
1998
Identification
Copyright
© 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
