Childhood disintegrative disorder is a rare childhood psychiatric disorders. It occurs generally after children are 2-4 years old. Within several months, patients have serious degradation and behavior disintegration. Severe language degradation or loss is common. Patients may also have degradation with games, social skills and adaptive behaviors. They may also have urine and bowel incontinence. Sometimes they have motion control capability degradation. Typical cases have widespread loss of interest in the environment and they repeat some motions or postures. They also have social and communication disorders like autism. This syndrome is similar to adult dementia in some aspects but their facial expressions still look smart. The prognosis is poor. A majority of children have severe mental retardation. In some cases there is evidence of physical brain lesion.
How is Childhood disintegrative disorder treated in practice?