[Hallucinations and obsessive behaviour in an infant with autism spectrum disorder: diagnostic problems]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children presents unique diagnostic and management challenges.
• Comorbid conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and psychosis, can complicate standard treatment approaches for ASD.
• Accurate differential diagnosis is crucial for effective intervention in pediatric cases.

Observation:

• A 6-year-old female patient diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder exhibited significant compulsions and hallucinations.
• Non-medical treatments were ineffective due to the severity of comorbid symptoms.
• The patient's young age posed challenges for precise diagnosis and therapeutic strategy.

Findings:

• Diagnostic follow-up led to the identification of underlying obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.
• Treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) was initiated.
• The SSRI treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the patient's compulsive and hallucinatory symptoms.

Implications:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be a viable and effective treatment option for specific comorbid symptoms in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
• Early and accurate diagnosis of comorbidities is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes in pediatric ASD.
• This case highlights the importance of considering pharmacological interventions for managing severe behavioral symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.