Skip to main content

Epilepsy and Autism

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Epilepsy

Abstract

Autism was first described in 1943 by Kanner (1943). This landmark paper detailed 11 children whose “condition differs so markedly and uniquely from anything reported so far, that each case merits… a detailed consideration of its fascinating peculiarities.” Kanner saw symptoms which included an inability to relate to others, unusual responses to the environment, stereotyped motor mannerisms, odd communication peculiarities, and a tendency to echo language. Kanner saw only one case of epilepsy in his cohort of 11 patients. The case reports by Kanner are notable for their thoroughness of clinical description.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Shinnar, S., et al. (2001) How long do new onset seizures in children last? ANN Neurology 49:659–664

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filipek, P., et al. (1999) The screening and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders J. Autism Dev Disorders 29:437–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Courchesne, E., et al. (1988) Hypoplasia of cerebellar lobules VI and VII in infantile autism. N Eng J Med 318:1349–1354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bachevalier, J., and Merjanian, P. (1994) The contribution of medial temporal lobe structures in infantile autism in Bauman, M., et al. eds. The Nerobiology of autism. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press pp 119-145

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabis, L., Pomeroy, J., and Andriola, M. (2005) Autism and epilepsy: cause, consequence, comorbidity, or coincidence? Epil. Behav. 7:652–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trevethan,E. (2004) Seizures and epilepsy among children with language regression and autistic spectrum disorders. J. Child. Neurol. 19: S49-S57

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuchman, R. (2004) AEDs and psychotropic drugs in children with autism and epilepsy. Ment. Retard. Dev. Disabil. Res. Rev. 10:135–138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, L. (1943) Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nerv. Child. 2:217–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuchman, R., and Rapin, I. (2002) Epilepsy in autism. Lancet Neurol. 6:352–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiznitzer, M. (2004) Autism and tuberous sclerosis J. Child Neurol 19:738–748

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, A., and Dennis, J. (1987) Psychiatric disorder among children with tuberous sclerosis. Dev. Med. Child. Neurol. 29:190–198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jambaque, I., et al. (1991) Neuropsychological aspects of tuberous sclerosis sclerosis in relation to epilepsy and MRI findings. Dev Med Child Neurol 33:698–704

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danielsson, S., et al. (2005) Epilepsy in young adults with autism: A prospective population based follow up study of 120 individuals diagnosed in childhood. Epilepsia 46:918–923

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsson, I., Steffenburg, S., and Gillberg, C. (1988) Epilepsy in autism and autistic like conditions Arch Neurol 45:666–668

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camfield, C., et al. (1993) Outcome of childhood epilepsy: a population based study with a simple predictive scoring system for those treated with medication. J. Pediatr 122:861–868

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canitano, R., Luchetti, A., and Zappella, M. (2005) Epilepsy, electroencephalographic abnormalities, and regression in children with autism. J Child Neurol 20:27–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy (1989) Proposal for revised classification of epilepsies and pileptic syndromes. Epilepsia 30:389–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuchman, R. (2000) Treatment of seizure disorders and EEG abnormalities in children with autistic spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 20:485–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shinnar, S., et al. (2001) Language regression in childhood Pediatric Neurology 24:183–189

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aldred, C., Green, J., and Adams, C. 2004) A new social communication intervention for children with autism: pilot randomized controlled treatment study suggesting effectiveness. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 45:1420–1430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, V., et al. (2006) Tuberous sclerosis complex: correlation of MRI findings with comorbidities J Child Neurol. 21:99–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Curatolo, P., and Cusmai, R. (1987) Autism and infantile spasms in children with tuberous sclerosis Dev Med Child Neurol 29:190–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Stobbe, G., et al. (2006) Use of levetiracetam in children with autism spectrum disorders and EEG epileptiform abnormalities Epilepsia 47:S4-S5

    Google Scholar 

  • Canitano, R. (2007) Epilepsy in autism spectrum disorders Eur Child Adol Psychiatry 16: 61–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E. (2003) Epidemiological surveys of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders: an update J Autism Dev Disord 4:365–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Saemundsen, E., et al. (2007) Autism spectrum disorders In children with seizures in the first year of life-a population study Epilepsia 48:1724–1730

    Google Scholar 

  • Moretti, P., et al. (2008) Brief report: autistic symptoms, developmental regression, mental retardation, epilepsy, and dyskinesias in CNS folate deficiency 38:1170–1177

    Google Scholar 

  • Kothur, K., Ray, M., and Malhi, P. (2008) Correlation of autism with temporal tubers in tuberous sclerosis complex Neurol India 56: 74–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Curatolo, P., et al. (2004) Autism in tuberous sclerosis Eur J pediatr Neurology 8:327–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton, P., and Griffiths, P. (1997) Association of tuberous sclerosis of temporal lobes with autism and atypical autism Lancet 349:392–395

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuddas, A., et al. (2002) Neuroepileptic determinants of autism spectrum disorders in tuberous spectrum disorders in tuberous sclerosis complex Brain 125:1247–1255

    Google Scholar 

  • Saemundsen, E., Ludvigsson, P., and Rafnsson, V. (2008) Risk of autism spectrum disorders after infantile spasms: a population based study nested in a cohort with seizures in the first year of life. Epilepsia 49:1865–1870

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fatemi, S., et al. (2009) GABAa receptor downregulation in brains of subjects with autism J Autism Dev Disord 39:223–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, G., et al. (2001) Density and distribution of hippocampal neurotransmitter receptors in autism: an autoradiography study J Autism Dev Disord 31:537–544

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camfield, C., et al. (1993) Biologic factors as predictors of social outcome of epilepsy in intellectually normal children: a population based study J Pediatr 122:869–873

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shinnar, S., et al. (2001) Neuroimaging abnormalities in children with an apparent first unprovoked seizure Epil Res 43:261–269

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McCandless, D.W. (2012). Epilepsy and Autism. In: Epilepsy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0361-6_24

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics