An examination of challenging behaviors in autistic disorder versus pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified: Significant differences and gender effects

Abstract

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are well-known for engagement in challenging behaviors. Unfortunately, due to its absence as a criterion for diagnosis in the DSM-IV-TR, little attention has been paid to the endorsement rates of such behaviors. However, a recently developed measure to assist in the diagnosis of infants and toddlers with autism and PDD-NOSthe Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT)has included a section designated for just this reason. This study used the BISCUIT to assess for significant differences in the endorsement rates of challenging behaviors between infants and toddlers with autism versus PDD-NOS as well as for significant differences between genders. There were significant differences between the diagnostic groups in endorsement rates of challenging behaviors as a whole, as well as among many specific behavior items. No significant differences between genders in endorsement rates of challenging behaviors were found. The implications of these findings are discussed. endorse the correct number of items within each of the three domains (Buitelaar, Van der Gaag, Klin, & Volkmar, 1999). For this reason, it has been noted that PDD-NOS is more often characterized by what it is not rather than what it is; it is not autism (Matson & Boisjoli, 2007). Indeed, the criteria for being diagnosed with PDD-NOS are not clearly outlined in the DSM-IV-TR, which makes diagnosis of PDD-NOS more ambiguous

The Emergence of Challenging Behaviors in At-Risk Toddlers with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…If this heightened occurrence of challenging behaviors is found in the young child with ASD, it will support researchers who have noted that individuals with ASD are at an increased risk for engaging in challenging behaviors at a high rate (Holden and Gitlesen 2006;Lecavalier 2006;Matson and Shoemaker 2009;Murphy et al 2005;Sturmey et al 2008). Furthermore, it would add support to the emerging literature which indicates that these behavioral problems are distinct from those with other delays and can be detected very early in life (Kozlowski and Matson 2010;Matson et al 2009b). This outcome would, thus, point to the importance of early detection of challenging behaviors in those with ASD and subsequent early, intensive intervention.…”

“…The 2-year-old children diagnosed with ASD showed a higher level of stereotypy than their typically developing 2-year-old counterparts during assessment conditions, and this gap incrementally increased at ages 3 and 4 years. Likewise, Kozlowski and Matson (2010) found that toddlers between the ages of 17-37 months who had ASD engaged in significantly more challenging behaviors than atypically developing, matched peers. Furthermore, significant differences were detected with respect to specific forms of aggressive, self-injurious, and stereotypic behaviors across diagnostic groups.…”

Speaking the Same Language? A Preliminary Investigation, Comparing the Language and Communication Skills of Females and Males with High-Functioning Autism

“…In early years TD males are more likely to have delayed first words, have a smaller vocabulary and less grammatically complex sentences (Eriksson et al 2012;Bouchard et al 2009). This finding has more recently been replicated in an ASD population (Kozlowski and Matson 2012). In male TD populations, structural language skills (vocabulary and sentence grammar) are thought to catch up with females by mid-childhood, although females are likely to demonstrate better pragmatic skills (i.e.…”

A non randomized mentalization intervention for parents of children with autism

“…Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report higher levels of stress and other negative affective states than parents of typically developing children [Baker-Ericzen, Bookman-Frazee, & Stahmer, 2005;Dyson, 1993;Eisenhower, Baker, & Blacher, 2005;Montes & Halterman, 2007] or parents of children with other developmental disorders [Boyd, 2002;Kozlowski & Matson, 2012;Sanders & Morgan, 1997]. Stress places all family members at increased risk for psychosocial problems including reduced well-being and increased depressive symptoms [Ingersoll & Hambrick, 2011;Paynter, Riley, Beamish, Davies, & Milford, 2013;Rivard, Terroux, Parent-Boursier, & Mercier, 2014].…”