Psychiatric Symptom Profiles of a Sample of Children with Asperger Syndrome

Background: There is increasing identification of psychiatric co-morbidities in individuals with Asperger syndrome that extend beyond the central diagnostic features of the disorder. Previous research indicates that depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviours, and attentional issues are more common in the AS population than they are in the general population.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the behavioural profile of non-referred individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS), and to determine the relations among psychiatric symptom scales.

Methods: Fifteen children with AS (6-18 years) participated in this study. Inclusion criteria included: no history of developmental language delay and average or above average cognitive and language functioning. The Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a parent-report measure with strong empirical support, was used to assess behavioural, emotional, and social problems. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III yielded an estimate of receptive language ability, and the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test-2000 was administered to provide an estimate of expressive language ability. The Wechsler Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence was used to determine cognitive ability. Parents completed the Krug Asperger’s Disorder Index to help to determine if the child’s profile was characteristic of Asperger syndrome or autism. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised provided an estimate of the severity of autism symptoms.

Results: One-sample t-tests revealed significant differences between the AS group and typically developing norms (Mean t-score = 50) for all symptom scales and DSM-IV scales. Eighty percent of participants had at least one symptom score in the clinical range. The scales that were most commonly in the clinical range in this sample were Thought Problems, Anxiety Problems, Social Problems, OCD, and Attention Problems. Correlational analyses will be conducted to determine the relations between each of the scales.

Conclusions: This paper suggests that individuals with AS are at significant risk for associated psychiatric symptoms, and it is important to further investigate these linkages. It also highlights the importance of considering how these symptoms impact each other. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of determining the efficacy of current or modified treatments on these disorders in individuals with AS.

Funding: CIHR-NAAR Autism Spectrum Disorders Strategic Training Program (JJAH-PI), SSHRC, CIHR