Cluster analytic identification of autistic preschoolers.
Cluster analysis was performed on factor analytic symptom profiles obtained from the Achenbach CBCL for a clinical sample of 204 3- to 5-year-old boys containing 79 autistic and autistic-like children. Patterns of results across 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-cluster solutions are presented. Clustering identified an autistic group as soon as three clusters were formed. As more clusters were obtained, this autistic cluster was subdivided according to presence/absence of anxiety and level of functioning. Other clusters included an emotional/behavioral disorder group, with some differentiation into Externalizing and Internalizing clusters, and a group of relatively normal children with few symptoms.
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Department of Human Development, Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania 19010.
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory