[Factor structure of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R): a study of dimensional versus categorical classification of autistic disorders].
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated whether empirically derived dimensions of autistic behavior are consistent with the content-valid construction of the autistic behavior domains according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV (social interaction, communication and repetitive, stereotyped behavior).


METHODS
A principal component exploratory factor analysis routine with varimax-rotation and extraction of factors following the Scree criterion was run using data from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) of N = 262 individuals exhibiting autism or autistic features.


RESULTS
A three-factor solution consisting of two socio-communicative and one language dimension and accounting for 46.1% of the total variance was found to best describe the data. These factors yielded only vague correspondence with the idea of behavior domains described in ICD-10 and DSM-IV. In addition, factor loadings of items representing repetitive, stereotyped patterns were generally weak.


CONCLUSIONS
The factor-analytic approach to autism indicates a conception of the disorder divergent from that defined in the contemporary psychiatric classification systems, especially regarding the area of repetitive, stereotyped behavior.
Bölte
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S
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters des Klinikums, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main. Boelte@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Poustka
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
Die Faktorenstruktur des Autismus Diagnostischen Interviews-Revision (ADI-R): Eine Untersuchung zur dimensionalen versus kategorialen Klassifikation autistischer Störungen.