الفهرس 
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Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) represents a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired reciprocal socialization and communication, often accompanied with stereotyped ritualistic behavior. To date, no clear data could explain the dramatic worldwide increase in the incidence of ASD during the last two decades. It is suggested that some environmental factors beside a genetic predisposition leads to the disease. Also, the disease is known to be associated with other psychiatric comorbidities. Aim of the work : The current study aimed at recognizing the risk factors of ASD in Egyptian children, assessing the incidence of psychiatric co-morbidity present in those children and relating the findings to the severity of the disease. Methods : The current study included 40 children, 27 males and 13 females, with age ranged from 3 to 11 years old, diagnosed to have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) based on the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Patients were divided to 3 groups according to their score on GARS, Mild ASD (10 cases) ; Moderate ASD (11 cases) and Severe ASD (19 cases). Data collected through clinical psychiatric interview, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescent (M.I.N.I KID), The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS), Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and a scale for measuring family socioeconomic status (SES) for health research in Egypt. Results : The main findings of the study are male represent a higher prevalence (67.5%) rate of autism than females (32.5%) and usually represented by severe type, cases were more prevalent among families living in urban areas (90%) than rural areas (20%). The present study demonstrates that (72.5%) of cases presented in families with middle socioeconomic status which are highly educated, the majority (80 %) of parents of studied cases hadn’t consanguinity degree while only (20%) from them had consanguinity from first degree, the vast majorities (92.5%) of the cases were not presented with family history of autism, 17.5% of cases with autism were associated with history of gestational complications, 37.5% of cases were associated with history of delivery complications and 20% of studied cases suffered from neonatal medical complications. As regard comorbidity, 90% of cases were associated with one or more comorbid conditions and presence of more than one comorbidity usually associated with male gender and severe type of autism, 72.5% of studied cases suffered from co-morbid Tics (40% occurs in severe autism), 25% of cases presented with associated ADHD, 20% of cases suffered from ODD as comorbid conditions, 37.5% of studied cases had co-morbid OCD and 5% of cases suffered from co-morbid GAD. Conclusions : from the current study it was concluded that male children, living in Urban areas, high and moderate socioeconomic states, consanguinity, positive family history, gestational, obstetric and neonatal complications represented a conditions that are associated with an increased risk of autism and ASDs in Egyptian population. Presence of one or more of those risk factors in children with autism is usually associated with severe type of the disease and more associated comorbidities. Determining the contribution of these risk factors may improve detection, earlier treatment and better prevention of the disease. Co-morbid tics, ADHD, ODD and OCD are most presented among male gender, where as co-morbid general anxiety disorder is more presented in females with autism. The most occurring coincidence of co-morbidity is co-morbid Tics & OCD, followed by co-morbid OCD & ODD. Those coincidences associated with severe autism and male gender. Future studies are suggested using large samples in order to confirm the finding of the present work.