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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
Summary
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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