Phenotypic overlap between core diagnostic features and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder

Stelios Georgiades, Peter Szatmari, Eric Duku, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Susan Bryson, Wendy Roberts, Eric Fombonne, Pat Mirenda, Isabel Smith, Tracy Vaillancourt, Joanne Volden, Charlotte Waddell, Ann Thompson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the phenotypic overlap between core diagnostic features and emotional/behavioral problems in a sample of 335 preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Results from principal component analysis (2 components; 49.70% variance explained) suggested substantial phenotypic overlap between core diagnostic features and emotional/behavioral problems. Component I, Emotional Behavioral Repetitive Problems, was independent of the children's intellectual, adaptive functioning, and structural language abilities. Component II, Social Communication Deficits, was negatively related to the children's intellectual, adaptive functioning, and structural language abilities. Both components were positively related to parental stress. This exploratory study contributes to our understanding of the ASD phenotype and provides further support for including emotional/behavioral problems as part of the clinical characterization of children with ASD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1321-1329
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of autism and developmental disorders
Volume41
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Comorbidity
  • Emotional/behavioral problems
  • Phenotype
  • Principal component analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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