An Epidemiological Study of Infantile Autism in a French Department (Rhône): Research Note

Abstract

In a French Department (Rhône), the prevalence of infantile autism was found to be 10.8 per 10,000 in the 5-9 age group, using broad operational criteria. The prevalence decreases to 5.1 per 10,000 when another set of criteria, similar to DSM-III, is used. The boy/girl sex ratios for these two sets of criteria were 2.1:1 and 2.3:1 respectively. The use of DSM-III turned out to be problematic for taking into account a broad spectrum of early psychotic disorders, autistic-like, yet more polymorphous. A subdivision concerning the existence of associated major neurological anomalies has appeared promising but requires finer validation.