Childhood disintegrative disorder
Alternative Names: Disintegrative psychosis; Heller syndrome
Childhood disintegrative disorder is a condition in which children develop normally through age 3 or 4. Then, over a few months, children lose language, motor, social, and other skills that they already learned.
Causes of Childhood disintegrative disorder
The cause of childhood disintegrative disorder is unknown, but it has been linked to brain and nervous system problems. A child who is affected loses:
- Communication skills
- Nonverbal behaviors
- Skills they had already learned
The condition is similar to autistic disorder (autism).
Childhood disintegrative disorder Symptoms
- Delay or lack of spoken language
- Impairment in nonverbal behaviors
- Inability to start or maintain a conversation
- Lack of play
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Loss of language or communication skills
- Loss of motor skills
- Loss of social skills
- Problems forming relationships with other children and family members
Tests and Exams
The health care provider will determine whether the child has this disorder, or a similar condition such as childhood schizophrenia or pervasive developmental disorder (autism).
The most important sign of childhood disintegrative disorder is the loss of developmental milestones. Generally, the diagnosis is made if the child has lost function in at least two areas of development.
Treatment of Childhood disintegrative disorder
Treatment is the same as for autistic disorder (autism) because the two disorders are similar.
One experimental treatment uses steroid medications to slow the progression of the condition.
Prognosis (Outlook)
The outlook for this disorder is poor. Most children with the condition have an impairment similar to that of children with severe autism by age 10.
When to Contact a Health Professional
Call your provider if your child has any delays in development or starts to lose developmental abilities.
Shah PE, Dalton R, Boris NW. Pervasive developmental disorders and childhood psychosis. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 29.
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Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Copyright 2011 A.D.A.M., Inc.
