Abstract
The purpose of this study was to observe quality of life (QoL) and global evolution of persons with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) in three different groups. Individualized programs for PDD were compared to traditional programs for intellectual disabilities. Behavioural disorders were repeatedly evaluated using the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) and QoL once a year. Little research has investigated this domain due to methodological problems with a non-verbal population. Two preliminary studies of individualized programs showed a significant reduction in behaviour disorders over the course of the study. The recent inclusion of a control group indicates that a traditional program reduces lethargy/social withdrawal (ABC factor 2). A good QoL was measured for the three groups.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the research grant “Research & Development” of the University Hospitals of Geneva, which financially supported this study. Authors would also like to thank the Fondation FRH for its financial support of the longitudinal study since 2002 with the “Muriel Sarfati Grant”. Finally, we would like to thank Severine Bessero for her help in editing the article.
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Gerber, F., Baud, M.A., Giroud, M. et al. Quality of Life of Adults with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord 38, 1654–1665 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0547-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0547-9