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Correlates and Risk Markers for Psychopathology in Young Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Rodriguez, Vanessa
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291145885

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
The prevalence of psychopathology and behavior problems in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has been reported to be quite high. Unfortunately, efforts to improve our understanding of psychopathology within this population have been hampered by methodological issues such as small sample sizes and differences in diagnostic practice. More importantly, many of the existing studies comparing psychopathology in individuals with and without ASDs did not control for differences in intellectual ability. The purpose of the current study was two-fold: first, this study identified and compared the prevalence of maladaptive behaviors in a group of children with and without an ASD diagnosis when matched on nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) and age. Second, subject and family characteristic features were assessed as possible risk markers for psychopathology. The final matched sample consisted of 219 children diagnosed with autism (n = 73), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) (n = 73), or neurodevelopmental disorder exclusive of ASD (n = 73). Subjects of preschool age (n = 159) were between 24 and 71 months old and subjects of school age (n = 60) were between 72 and 144 months old. The parent-completed preschool and school-age versions of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used as a measure of child psychopathology. The Pervasive Developmental Disorders Behavior Inventory (PDDBI) Ritualism/Resistance to Change and Social Approach subscales were used a measure of autism symptom severity. Subject and family characteristics (medical, educational, and mental health histories) were obtained from a pediatric history questionnaire. A series of 3 (Group) x 2 (Age) ANOVAs were conducted to compare mean psychopathology scores for all CBCL narrow-band and composite scales. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the putative predictor variables and CBCL Composite and narrow-band scale T-scores. Correlations found to be significant at the p < .10 level were included in subsequent logistic and multiple regression analyses. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of clinically significant psychopathology using presence versus absence of clinically significant problems (CBCL T-scores greater than 69) as the dependent variable. Multiple regression analyses also were conducted to identify relevant predictor variables for the continuum of scores on CBCL scales. Overall, few differences were observed between the three diagnostic groups with regards to scores on the CBCL Composite and narrow-band scales. The only difference to emerge was on the CBCL Withdrawn subscale, in which the preschool PDD-NOS group was significantly more withdrawn than the preschool Non-ASD group (but not different from the preschool AD group). With regards to predictors of psychopathology, two variables consistently were identified in both the logistic and multiple regression analyses as potential risk markers for a variety of psychopathology: (a) family history of psychopathology (bipolar disorder, in particular) and (b) autism severity (ritualism/resistance to change, social approach). These findings were discussed with respect to previous research on psychopathology in ASD suggesting the phenomenon to be similar to what is observed in the non-ASD population.
James Mulick, PhD (Advisor)
Michael Aman, PhD (Committee Member)
Betsey Benson, PhD (Committee Member)
Luc Lecavalier, PhD (Committee Member)
Psychology
autism; psychopathology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rodriguez, V. (2010). Correlates and Risk Markers for Psychopathology in Young Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291145885

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rodriguez, Vanessa. Correlates and Risk Markers for Psychopathology in Young Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. 2010. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291145885.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rodriguez, Vanessa. "Correlates and Risk Markers for Psychopathology in Young Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291145885

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.