COMORBID ANXIETY SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

The present study examined the prevalence of comorbid anxiety symptoms in 44 children with pervasive developmental disorders. Parents of the children were interviewed using the Anxiety Disorders section of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. Results indicated that sev ere anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent in children with pervasive d evelopmental disorders: 84.1% of the children met the full criteria fo r at least one anxiety disorder. Furthermore, 72.7% of the children di splayed ritualistic behaviors. Implications of the findings are discus sed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.