Actually - yes, I have heard of it. I googled it, and there is a whole lot more out there on it now, but google also pulled up a post I did on it 6 years ago (doesn't seem like it was 6 years ago, LOL).
http://www.conductdisorders.com/forum/f13/multiplex-developmental-disorder-not-dsm-268/
http://medicine.yale.edu/childstudy/autism/information/autism.aspx
Found another link that has some good info (
http://www.mcdd.be/informatie_en.htm), and also states (my emphasis added): "
It would be better though that autism related disorders aren't seen as a milder form of autism. Several symptomatological factor analyses have revealed that the autism spectrum can be divided in four groups:
- the classical Kanner-type autistic patients
- a group of Kanner-type autistic patients with mental retardation
- a group of atypical patients with more organic disturbances
- a group of patients with more affective and schizoid symptoms can be distinguished (Dahl et al, 1986; Siegel et al, 1986; Szatmari et al, 1989) and these matches the group of multiple-complex developmental disorders (Cohen et al, 1986). "
Briefly scanning articles out there, it looks like it is still not in the DSM and is being used more for research purposes in the US, though it looks like other countries (Israel, Netherlands now, and I know England and Australia 6 years ago) are taking a much harder look at MCDD as a separate and significant category of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD).
I have felt for years that my kid was on the spectrum. I didn't get much help from psychiatrists because he certainly never has fit the more traditional criteria for Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). The closest we ever got was a rule out Asperger's diagnosis at 17, but... by that time it was far too late for meaningful intervention (he was way past noncompliant). To this day he still nails the 3 criteria for MCDD (social skill problems, affect problems, and disordered thinking).
Just from life with thank you, I think MCDD is an excellent description of some of our kids who just don't fully fit into other diagnostic boxes. He's had a boatload of diagnoses over the years - bipolar is the one that stuck, but obviously treatment and management plans for a kiddo on the spectrum have to be different than for a kiddo who is straight bipolar. I have to wonder if MCDD were being used as a diagnosis 15 years ago if we would have had a better shot at addressing not only the mood aspect, but also his *severely* impaired social skills (and later life skills).
I will say that at age 20, while he's definitely still "off", he has managed to find a niche for himself socially (and not *all* of his friends seem to be of the difficult child variety), has had (way too many, LOL) girlfriends, and the magical thinking has morphed a bit to a different type of thought process, obsessed with causing pain, blood, gore, dismemberment, etc. I think at this stage the biggest challenge is that his affect is still on the bizarre side of things and it's making employment virtually impossible. on the other hand, he has somehow managed to live on his own for 2 years, and is maintaining very well here at home now. Starts college in a couple of weeks.