Autistic features in patients with intellectual disability attending the psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary healthcare center.

Abstract

Background: Meta-syndromic groups with cognitive and relational impairment include both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). When it comes to individuals with intellectual difficulties, autistic traits are often unexplored unless they reach the level of the syndrome. The presence of both autism and ID increases disability percentage.

Aim: To study the presence of autistic symptoms in individuals with ID.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study in which after informed consent from caretakers of patients with ID, clinical history and sociodemographic details were recorded. Further Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) was administered for evaluation of autistic features. Statistical analysis of the data was done using the Chi-square test and Spearman's correlation.

Results: Out of 150 subjects with ID, 18% (n = 27) were diagnosed with comorbid ASD. A statistically significant (P value = <0.001) association was found between the severity of ID (intelligence quotient, [IQ]) and the severity of autism in patients. Various domains of autism like social relation and reciprocity, speech, language, communication, emotional responsiveness, etc., showed a statistically significant correlation with IQ.

Conclusion: This study finding also highlights that lower IQ scores, i.e., severe ID have higher incidence and severity of autistic features. Improving assessment both clinically and on objective testing can help in planning rehabilitation for these patients.