Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Sep 9.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06536-7. Online ahead of print.

Structure of Restricted Repetitive Behaviors of Individuals Referred for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment

Helen Kay Root  1 , Monica M Abdul-Chani  2 , Zachary Enos Arnold  2 , Jeremy J Cottle  2 , Timothy Hilty  2 , Kristi Carter Guest  2 , Sarah E O'Kelley  2
Affiliations

Structure of Restricted Repetitive Behaviors of Individuals Referred for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment

Helen Kay Root et al. J Autism Dev Disord. .

Abstract

Purpose: Restricted and/or repetitive displays of behavior, interests, or activities (RRBs) are one of the core symptom domains of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current and past research indicates two 'clusters' of RRBs in children with ASD: repetitive sensorimotor (e.g., hand/finger and more complex motor mannerisms) and insistence on sameness (e.g., resistance to changes in the environment) behaviors. The current study aims to fill a gap by examining how RRBs may diverge in individuals with ASD and with other neurodevelopmental disorders (ONDD) in a clinical sample.

Methods: A total of 558 individuals were seen at a tertiary care clinic for a comprehensive clinical assessment of ASD. The sample was split into ASD (n = 292 individuals) and ONDD (n = 266) groups based on clinical diagnosis. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted using Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) RRB item scores for the overall sample, the ASD group, and the ONDD group.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis of ADI-R RRB items indicated a 2-factor solution for the full sample and ASD group. Items loaded onto two factors comprised of "Repetitive Sensorimotor" and "Insistence on Sameness" behaviors, consistent with previous literature. Results demonstrated a unique loading pattern for the non-ASD group, with items clustering into "Higher Order" (e.g., circumscribed interests) and "Lower Order" (e.g., hand and finger mannerisms) behaviors.

Conclusion: The results of the current study may point towards using RRBs to guide screening of children who are referred for an ASD evaluation to better identify children who are at higher risk of having ASD.

Keywords: Autism diagnostic interview-revised; Autism spectrum disorder; Factor analysis; Restricted and repetitive behaviors.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®), Text Revision (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Pub.
    1. Bayley, N. (2006). Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.
    1. Berry, K., Russell, K., & Frost, K. (2018). Restricted and repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder: A review of associated features and presentation across clinical populations. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 5(2), 108–115. - DOI
    1. Cuccaro, M. L., Shao, Y., Grubber, J., Slifer, M., Wolpert, C. M., Donnelly, S. L., Abramson, R. K., Ravan, S. A., Wright, H. H., & DeLong, G. R. (2003). Factor analysis of restricted and repetitive behaviors in autism using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-R. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 34(1), 3–17. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Elliott, C. (2007). Differential ability scales—Second Edition (DAS-II). Harcourt Assessment.

LinkOut - more resources