Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Canadian guidelines for diagnosis

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Canadian guidelines for diagnosis

Chudley AE; Conry J; Cook JL; Loock C; Rosales T; LeBlanc N; Public Health Agency of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Canadian Medical Association Journal

2005

Child; Female; Humans; infant; Pregnancy; Adult; Risk Factors; Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support; Newborn; Diagnosis; Differential; Abnormalities; Multiple/diagnosis; Canada/epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking/prevention & control; Alcoholism/diagnosis/prevention & control; Ethanol; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention & control; Mass Screening/standards; Medical History Taking/standards; Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis; Physical Examination/standards; Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis/prevention & control; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Referral and Consultation/standards

The diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is complex and guidelines are warranted. A subcommittee of the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder reviewed, analysed and integrated current approaches to diagnosis to reach agreement on a standard in Canada. The purpose of this paper is to review and clarify the use of current diagnostic systems and make recommendations on their application for diagnosis of FASD-related disabilities in people of all ages. The guidelines are based on widespread consultation of expert practitioners and partners in the field. The guidelines have been organized into 7 categories: screening and referral; the physical examination and differential diagnosis; the neurobehavioural assessment; and treatment and follow-up; maternal alcohol history in pregnancy; diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial FAS and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder; and harmonization of Institute of Medicine and 4-Digit Diagnostic Code approaches. The diagnosis requires a comprehensive history and physical and neurobehavioural assessments; a multidisciplinary approach is necessary. These are the first Canadian guidelines for the diagnosis of FAS and its related disabilities, developed by broad-based consultation among experts in diagnosis.

2005

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