DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2025.v13i11.030

Pages: 2795-2798

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition frequently associated with epilepsy, suggesting potential overlapping neurobiological mechanisms. Although this comorbidity has been described in various populations, there is limited data from pediatric psychiatric services in Morocco. Understanding the clinical, social, and epidemiological characteristics of children with both ASD and epilepsy in this local context is essential for improving diagnosis, management, and outcomes. Objective: To analyze and compare the clinical, epidemiological, and social characteristics of children with ASD and epilepsy in the studied sample, as well as their developmental course, and to confront the findings with the existing literature. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical study included 404 patients diagnosed with ASD at the day hospital of the Child Psychiatry Department of Ar-Razi Hospital in Salé, Morocco, from its establishment in 2010 until 2022. Diagnostic assessments were based on DSM criteria, with the DSM-IV used up to 2013 and the DSM-5 applied thereafter. Sociodemographic, clinical, and developmental data were systematically collected and analyzed. Results: Among the 404 children diagnosed with ASD, 8.2% (n=33) had comorbid epilepsy. The mean age at ASD diagnosis was 3.5 years, with a male predominance (78.6%; sex ratio 4:1). Compared to children with ASD alone, those with epilepsy presented higher rates of intellectual disability (15% vs. 4%), more severe adaptive impairments, and markedly greater language deficits (93% with initial impairment, 73% with unfavorable progression). Behavioral disturbances requiring antipsychotic treatment were more frequent in the ASD-epilepsy group (18.75% vs. 5.8%). Social and educational outcomes were also significantly affected, with 74% showing poor social integration and 85% not attending school. Overall, the clinical course was unfavorable in 88% of children with ASD and epilepsy compare