Psychiatric Comorbidity and Executive Functions in Population with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Introduction. Executive functions and their relationship with psychiatric comorbidity were evaluated in a sample of 8 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 18 years, who belong to the DINA Institute in the city of Manizales. Objective. To establish the relationship between executive functioning and psychiatric comorbidity in a population aged 6 to 18 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method. A population of 20 participants diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome was studied; the sample included 8 participants, with and without psychiatric comorbidity. An abbreviated adaptation of the WISC IV and the Wisconsin Card Sorting subtest of the ENI were applied; the analysis of the results was provided by SPSS statistical processing software version 23. Results. 50% of the sample showed psychiatric comorbidity; diversified executive performance was observed. Subjects with ASD without psychiatric comorbidity were those who obtained higher scores in executive performance. Conclusion. Psychiatric comorbidity was determined in half of the sample; profiles of executive functioning show diversified performance, however, with higher scores in the population with ASD without psychiatric comorbidity.