title: A comparison of behavioral and emotional functioning in children and adolescents with Autistic Disorder and PDD-NOS.
abstract: Behavioral symptomatology was compared in 26 children and adolescents with Autistic Disorder ("autism") and 25 children and adolescents with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified ("PDD-NOS"). Relative to individuals with PDD-NOS, those with autism had more symptoms of depression, social withdrawal, atypical behavior, and immature social skills--and fewer family problems. These differences remained even when group differences in intellectual ability were statistically controlled. No group differences emerged in somatization, anxiety, or hyperactivity. Findings suggest that although both groups demonstrate considerable evidence of behavioral and emotional problems, those with autism are at particularly high risk for comorbid behavioral and emotional disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 77030-3497, USA. Deborah.A.Pearson@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Loveland
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lachar
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Reddoch
authors.forename: Rosleen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Lynne A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cleveland
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology