Comorbilidad psiquiátrica y rendimiento neuropsicológico en el trastorno del espectro autista: un estudio correlacional
Fecha
2026
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Universidad de Manizales
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Resumen
El aumento de la prevalencia del trastorno del espectro autista y la frecuente presencia de comorbilidades psiquiátricas han reforzado la necesidad de analizar esta condición desde una perspectiva clínica integral. Este estudio partió de la hipótesis de que la comorbilidad psiquiátrica en personas con trastorno del espectro autista se relaciona con un menor rendimiento neuropsicológico. Se realizó un estudio no experimental, descriptivo y transversal con 39 niños y adolescentes diagnosticados con trastorno del espectro autista, vinculados a una institución especializada de la ciudad de Manizales. Se aplicaron una entrevista psiquiátrica semiestructurada, una batería neuropsicológica infantil y una escala abreviada de inteligencia. Los análisis incluyeron estadística descriptiva, prueba de normalidad, comparación entre grupos y correlaciones. Los resultados mostraron una alta prevalencia de comorbilidad psiquiátrica, siendo el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad la condición más frecuente. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el rendimiento neuropsicológico global entre participantes con y sin comorbilidad, aunque sí se identificaron asociaciones con indicadores específicos del funcionamiento ejecutivo y atencional. Se concluye que el trastorno del espectro autista es una condición altamente comórbida, cuya complejidad exige evaluaciones clínicas integrales y contextualizadas.
The increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and the frequent presence of psychiatric comorbidities have reinforced the need to analyze this condition from a comprehensive clinical perspective. This study was based on the hypothesis that psychiatric comorbidity in individuals with autism spectrum disorder is associated with lower neuropsychological performance. A nonexperimental, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 39 children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, all enrolled in a specialized institution in the city of Manizales. A semi-structured psychiatric interview, a child neuropsychological battery, and an abbreviated intelligence scale were administered. The analyses included descriptive statistics, a normality test, group comparisons, and correlations. The results showed a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder being the most frequent condition. No significant differences were found in overall neuropsychological performance between participants with and without comorbidity, although associations were identified with specific indicators of executive and attentional functioning. It is concluded that autism spectrum disorder is a highly comorbid condition whose complexity requires comprehensive and contextualized clinical assessments.
The increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and the frequent presence of psychiatric comorbidities have reinforced the need to analyze this condition from a comprehensive clinical perspective. This study was based on the hypothesis that psychiatric comorbidity in individuals with autism spectrum disorder is associated with lower neuropsychological performance. A nonexperimental, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 39 children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, all enrolled in a specialized institution in the city of Manizales. A semi-structured psychiatric interview, a child neuropsychological battery, and an abbreviated intelligence scale were administered. The analyses included descriptive statistics, a normality test, group comparisons, and correlations. The results showed a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder being the most frequent condition. No significant differences were found in overall neuropsychological performance between participants with and without comorbidity, although associations were identified with specific indicators of executive and attentional functioning. It is concluded that autism spectrum disorder is a highly comorbid condition whose complexity requires comprehensive and contextualized clinical assessments.
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Palabras clave
Trastorno del espectro autista (TEA), Comorbilidad psiquiátrica, Neuropsicología, Evaluación clínica
