Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity For Children Research Articles

RETRACTED: The effect of intellectual disability on the presence of comorbid symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

• Researchers have found level of intellectual functioning to effect rate of comorbid symptoms. • Presence of comorbid symptoms were examined in children with ASD and children with ASD and ID. • No significant differences in presence of comorbid symptoms were found between the groups. • Despite these findings, level of intellectual functioning should be taken into account when designing treatment programs. Research is limited in examining the presence of comorbid symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring intellectual disability (ID). The current study aimed to expand knowledge in this area by evaluating the presence of comorbid symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD, compared to those with ASD and ID. Comorbid symptoms examined using the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children ( ASD-C-C ) included tantrum behavior, repetitive behavior, worry/depression, avoidant behavior, under-eating, conduct problems, and over-eating. Two hundred and nineteen children and adolescents ranging from 3 to 16 years of age participated in the study. Significant differences were not found between the groups on any of the comorbid symptoms measured. The implications of these findings on treatment are discussed.

An examination of the relationship between autism spectrum disorder, intellectual functioning, and comorbid symptoms in children.

There is a deficiency of research looking at how rates of comorbid psychopathology are effected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual functioning level. The present study aimed to extend the literature in this area by evaluating how ASD and IQ scores are related to ratings on a measure of comorbid symptoms. Twenty-three children with ASD and 87 children without ASD participated in this study. Rates of tantrum behavior, avoidant behavior, worry/depressed, repetitive behavior, under-eating, over-eating, and conduct behavior were examined utilizing the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Correlational and multiple regression analyses were then conducted. ASD diagnosis significantly predicted rates of tantrum behavior, avoidant behavior, and repetitive behavior. Children with ASD tended to have higher rates of all three of these comorbid symptoms than children without ASD. Although not statistically significant, there was a negative correlation between IQ and rates of comorbid symptoms, such that children with higher IQ scores tended to have lower rates of comorbid symptoms. The implications of these findings on assessment and intervention are discussed.

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

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.

RETRACTED: Exploration of the correlation between autism spectrum disorder symptomology and tantrum behaviors

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the presence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms and tantrum behaviors in 598 children ranging in age from two to sixteen years old who meet cutoffs for ASD. Diagnostic categories created in the current study were provided by the Autism Spectrum Disorder – Diagnostic Child Version (ASD-DC). Initial analysis replicated previous research revealing significant differences in the expression of tantrum behavior between the ASD, Atypical, and Normal groups. Pearson Bivariate correlations were then computed for each individual's ASD symptom score and their total score on the Tantrum behavior subscale. Follow-up correlations found significant positive correlations between individual's in the Atypical, Normal, and ASD categories and their scores for the Tantrum behavior subscale of the Autism Spectrum Disorders – Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Post hoc analyses revealed that the correlation between ASD symptomology and tantrum behaviors in the Normal group was significantly different when compared to children in the ASD group.

Comorbid Symptoms in Children with Anxiety Disorders Compared to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been shown to be highly comorbid with other psychological disorders. Currently, there is a dearth of research examining how comorbidity impacts the assessment of core symptoms and co-occurring problem behaviors in children with ASD. The present study evaluated the rates of comorbid symptoms in children with ASD and children with anxiety disorders. Participants included 29 children with ASD, 25 children with anxiety disorders, and 31 children with no psychological disorder who served as the control group. Commonly co-occurring internalizing and externalizing symptoms were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Multivariate and univariate main effect analyses with post-hoc comparisons were conducted on seven symptom subscales (tantrum behaviors, repetitive behaviors, worry/depressed symptoms, avoidant behaviors, under-eating, overeating, and conduct problems). Children with ASD evinced higher rates of comorbid symptoms than children with anxiety disorders. Additionally, both children with ASD and those with anxiety disorders exhibited more comorbid symptoms than children in the control group. Our findings support the importance of conducting broadband assessments for comorbid symptoms when evaluating children with atypical development. Implications of these findings will be discussed in the context of previous research.

Investigation of the Rates of Comorbid Symptoms in Children with ADHD Compared to Children with ASD

There is a scarcity of research looking at how comorbid psychological disorders impact the assessment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present study aimed to extend the literature in this area by evaluating rates of comorbid symptoms in both children with ASD and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ASD, ADHD, or no psychological diagnosis participated in this study. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Disorders - Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Multivariate and univariate main effect analyses with post-hoc comparisons were then conducted. Children with ASD evinced higher rates of comorbid symptoms than children with ADHD. Additionally, both children with ASD and those with ADHD exhibited more comorbid symptoms than children without a psychological disorder. These findings are in accordance with previous research and support the need for broadband assessment of psychiatric conditions in children presenting with developmental delays or externalizing behaviors. Other implications of these findings are discussed.

Examination and validation of a measure of anxiety specific to children with autism spectrum disorders

Objective: Investigated the use of a combined scale (Worry/Depressed and Avoidant scales) from the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC) as a measure of anxiety. Alternative methods of measuring anxiety were examined using the ASD-CC in an ASD population.Methods: Participants included 147 children, age 2–16 years, evincing a mixture of behavior problems. Comparisons between scores on the ASD-CC and Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) were examined to determine the most efficacious method of measuring anxiety and to establish convergent and discriminant validity.Results: The worry/depressed subscale was the most effective subscale of the ASD-CC to measure anxiety with proven incremental validity over the combined scale.Conclusion: The worry/depressed subscale is the best measure of anxiety utilizing the ASD-CC in children with an ASD. Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity was demonstrated by comparing the scale with similar and dissimilar scales of the BASC-2.

Externalizing and tantrum behaviours in children with ASD and ADHD compared to children with ADHD

Objective: Compare rates of externalizing in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms to children with ADHD.Method: Parents/caregivers of 85 children with ASD and/or ADHD were surveyed about their children's behaviours using the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children and the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Behaviour Problem for Children.Results: Specific main effects analyses were then conducted. Children with ASD exhibited a higher number of externalizing (F(1, 83) = 83.34, p < 0.001) and tantrum behaviours (F(1,83) = 781.86, p < 0.001) than children without ASD.Conclusions: ASD exacerbates the externalizing symptoms of ADHD during childhood. This study adds to the literature on the importance of assessing for a wide-range of possible behaviour problems in children presenting with ADHD symptomatology. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of other research.

Validity of the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children (ASD-CC)

A limited number of studies currently exist focusing on comorbid psychopathology of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Due to the heterogeneity of ASD symptoms, communication deficits, and impairments in intellectual functioning, assessing symptoms of psychopathology is complicated. The Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC) is a new measure, incorporated in an extensive assessment battery, designed to assess children with ASD for comorbid psychopathology. Reliability analyses of the ASD-CC have been conducted [Matson, J. L., & Wilkins, J. (2008). Reliability of the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Comorbidity for Children (ASD-CC). Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 20, 155–165]. The aim of this study was to identify the factor structure of the ASD-CC and evaluate construct validity of the measure by correlating the empirically derived factors with subscales of the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Version 2 (BASC-2). Results of the analyses included a seven-factor solution. The factors were composed of items consistent with Tantrum Behavior, Repetitive Behavior, Worry/Depressed, Avoidant Behavior, Under-Eating, Over-Eating, and Conduct. Convergence between some factors of the ASD-CC and related subscales was observed as was discrimination between unrelated factors of the two measures. The ASD-CC appears to be a valid measure of comorbid psychopathology in the ASD population.