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Friday, May 16, 2008
Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)
Background: High rates of restrictive/repetitive and stereotyped behaviors (RBs) and abnormal sensory response have been reported in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Research has suggested that some individuals with an ASD engage in RBs as a reaction to a sensory experience.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to independently confirm the existence of a subgroup of ASD subjects with high rates of RBs and sensory interest/response abnormalities.
Methods: As part of a genetic study of autism, the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) and ADI-R data on 134 individuals with autism were gathered. The sample was divided into quartiles with an RBS-R total score of >41 for upper quartile. A sensory response index was derived from totaling the current scores from ADI-R sensory items (sensory interests, idiosyncratic negative response to stimuli, and noise sensitivity). The relationship between the RBS-R total score and ADI-R sensory index within each subgroup (High-RB vs. Low-RB) were examined. T-tests were used to determine differences between subgroups.
Results: 38 individuals were in the High (upper quartile) RB subgroup and 96 individuals in the Low (lower three quartiles) RB subgroup. High-RB subgroup showed a significant correlation (r=.351,p=.03) between the RBS-R total and ADI-R sensory index. These variables were uncorrelated in the Low-RB subgroup (r=.169,p=.100). The High-RB subgroup differed significantly from the Low subgroup on ADI-R social and communication algorithm total scores, t = 2.205, p = 0.029 and t = 2.298, p = 0.023 respectively.
Conclusions: Results suggests there is a subgroup of individuals diagnosed with autism who have both high rates of RBs and sensory interest/response abnormalities. Finally, further research examining whether these two characteristics within autism constitute a consistent phenotypic subgroup is indicated. This research may have long-term significance for better understanding the genetic etiology of ASD.
This project was supported by 2R01 NS16768-09.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to independently confirm the existence of a subgroup of ASD subjects with high rates of RBs and sensory interest/response abnormalities.
Methods: As part of a genetic study of autism, the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) and ADI-R data on 134 individuals with autism were gathered. The sample was divided into quartiles with an RBS-R total score of >41 for upper quartile. A sensory response index was derived from totaling the current scores from ADI-R sensory items (sensory interests, idiosyncratic negative response to stimuli, and noise sensitivity). The relationship between the RBS-R total score and ADI-R sensory index within each subgroup (High-RB vs. Low-RB) were examined. T-tests were used to determine differences between subgroups.
Results: 38 individuals were in the High (upper quartile) RB subgroup and 96 individuals in the Low (lower three quartiles) RB subgroup. High-RB subgroup showed a significant correlation (r=.351,p=.03) between the RBS-R total and ADI-R sensory index. These variables were uncorrelated in the Low-RB subgroup (r=.169,p=.100). The High-RB subgroup differed significantly from the Low subgroup on ADI-R social and communication algorithm total scores, t = 2.205, p = 0.029 and t = 2.298, p = 0.023 respectively.
Conclusions: Results suggests there is a subgroup of individuals diagnosed with autism who have both high rates of RBs and sensory interest/response abnormalities. Finally, further research examining whether these two characteristics within autism constitute a consistent phenotypic subgroup is indicated. This research may have long-term significance for better understanding the genetic etiology of ASD.
This project was supported by 2R01 NS16768-09.