RETRACTED: Comparing the rates of tantrum behavior in children with ASD and ADHD as well as children with comorbid ASD and ADHD diagnoses

Abstract

The current study investigated the presentation of tantrum behaviors in individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis with and without a comorbid diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants included 347 children ranging in age from 2 to 18 years old. Diagnostic categories in the current study were based upon clinical diagnosis. The severity of ASD symptomology was measured by the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Diagnostic Child Version (ASD-DC). The presence and severity of tantrum behaviors were measured by the Tantrum behavior subscale of the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). The influence of diagnosis and ASD symptomology had upon the expression of tantrum behaviors were examined, controlling for participant age. Initial analysis revealed significant differences in the expression of tantrum behavior between the ASD, ADHD and ASD/ADHD groups. However, age did not have a significant influence on the exhibition of tantrum behaviors. Follow-up analyses demonstrated that those individuals diagnosed with an ASD and a comorbid ADHD diagnosis exhibited significantly greater tantrum behavior. Post hoc analyses identified a significant positive correlation between increases in ASD symptomology and elevations of the severity of tantrum behaviors for each group. The observed correlation for the ADHD group was found to be significantly greater than the ASD group. Correlations for individual item responses of the ASD-CC were also computed and discussed for each diagnostic group.