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Definitional issues and neurobiological foundations of selected severe neurodevelopmental disorders
S R Hooper1, T A Boyd, G W Hynd
1Department of Psychiatry and The Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, 27599-7255, USA.
Insights
This review examines mental retardation and autistic disorder, highlighting their neurobiological basis and neuropsychological findings. A syndrome analysis approach is recommended for these complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Mental retardation and autistic disorder are common severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
- These conditions are encountered frequently by child neuropsychologists in clinical and research settings.
- Despite their prevalence, they have received less attention within neuropsychology compared to other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current definitional issues, neuropsychological findings, and neurobiological underpinnings of mental retardation and autistic disorder.
- To emphasize the need for greater attention to these disorders within the field of neuropsychology.
- To advocate for a syndrome analysis approach to better understand their heterogeneity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mental retardation and autistic disorder.
- Analysis of definitional aspects and neuropsychological findings.
- Examination of presumed neurobiological underpinnings.
Main Results:
- Few definitional controversies exist for these disorders.
- Solid evidence supports underlying neurological processes for both conditions.
- Each diagnosis likely represents a heterogeneous group of disorders.
Conclusions:
- A syndrome analysis approach is beneficial for understanding the heterogeneity of mental retardation and autistic disorder.
- Clinicians and researchers should adopt a neuropsychological perspective and utilize specific assessment strategies.
- Further research is needed to enhance understanding and clinical practice for these severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
Abstract:
This article reviews current definitional issues, selected neuropsychological findings, and presumed neurobiological underpinnings of two of the more commonly identified severe neurodevelopmental disorders: mental retardation and autistic disorder. Although these disorders represent two of the more common severe neurodevelopmental disorders encountered by child neuropsychologists practicing in clinical and research settings, they have not received the amount of attention from the field of neuropsychology as other kinds of neurodevelopmental disorders. Although there are few definitional controversies surrounding these disorders, findings accrued to date reveal solid evidence for neurological processes underlying each of these disorders. In addition, each of these diagnoses likely represents a heterogeneous group of disorders, suggesting that a syndrome analysis approach would prove beneficial for increasing our understanding of each disorder. Conclusions are drawn for the clinician and researcher, particularly with respect to using a neuropsychological perspective and assessment strategies with children with more severe disorders.