Factor Structure of Repetitive Behaviors Across Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Noah J Brierley; Christina G McDonnell; Kaitlyn M A Parks; Samantha E Schulz; Tyler C Dalal; Elizabeth Kelley; Evdokia Anagnostou; Robert Nicolson; Stelios Georgiades; Jennifer Crosbie; Russell Schachar; Xudong Liu; Ryan A Stevenson

doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04800-0

Factor Structure of Repetitive Behaviors Across Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Oct;51(10):3391-3400. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04800-0. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Authors

Noah J Brierley¹, Christina G McDonnell^{2

3

4}, Kaitlyn M A Parks^{2

3}, Samantha E Schulz^{2

3}, Tyler C Dalal², Elizabeth Kelley⁵, Evdokia Anagnostou⁶, Robert Nicolson⁷, Stelios Georgiades⁸, Jennifer Crosbie⁹, Russell Schachar⁹, Xudong Liu¹⁰, Ryan A Stevenson^{2

3

7

11}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada. nbrierle@uwo.ca.
² Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
³ Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
⁶ Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
⁹ The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatry, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
¹¹ Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

PMID: 33236274
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04800-0

Abstract

Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and commonly occur in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Little is known about how RRBs manifest in ADHD. We quantified and compared factor structures of RRBs in children with ASD (n = 634) or ADHD (n = 448), and related factors to sex and IQ. A four-factor solution emerged, including Stereotypy, Self-Injury, Compulsions, and Ritualistic/Sameness. Factor structures were equivalent across diagnoses, though symptoms were more severe in ASD. IQ negatively correlated with Stereotypy, Self-Injury, and Compulsions in ASD, and negatively correlated with Compulsions and Ritualistic/Sameness behaviors in ADHD. In ASD only, females exhibited higher Self-Injury. Thus, patterns of RRBs are preserved across ASD and ADHD, but severity and relationship with IQ differed.

Keywords: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Autism spectrum disorder; Factor analysis; Restricted and repetitive behaviors.

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / epidemiology
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Child
Female
Humans
Stereotyped Behavior

Abstract

MeSH terms

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