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Developmental Coordination Disorder and cerebral palsy: categories or a continuum?

Jillian G Pearsall-Jones1, Jan P Piek, Florence Levy

  • 1School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. jillian.pearsall-jones@tccp.com.au

Human Movement Science
|July 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) may share causal pathways with cerebral palsy, suggesting they are part of a movement disorder continuum. Neurological involvement and perinatal factors are implicated in DCD etiology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects 1.7%-6% of children aged 5-11.
  • DCD is classified as an Axis I Clinical Disorder in DSM-IV-TR.
  • Neurological involvement is implicated in DCD etiology, similar to cerebral palsy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that DCD and cerebral palsy share similar causal pathways.
  • To investigate if DCD and cerebral palsy lie on a continuum of movement disorders.
  • To apply Sir Austin Bradford Hill's principles to observed associations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a co-twin control study of monozygotic twins.
  • Applied nine principles by Sir Austin Bradford Hill for association analysis.
  • Analyzed perinatal and prenatal factors in relation to DCD.

Main Results:

  • Previous studies indicated a link between environmental factors and DCD.
  • Seven of nine DCD-affected twins in a co-twin study had perinatal oxygen perfusion issues.
  • One twin experienced prenatal complications, supporting environmental links.

Conclusions:

  • Findings strengthen the hypothesis of shared causal pathways between DCD and cerebral palsy.
  • DCD and cerebral palsy may represent points on a spectrum of movement disorders.
  • Results have implications for DCD prevention, intervention, policy, and classification.

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