title: Executive function in MCDD and PDD-NOS: a study of inhibitory control, attention regulation and behavioral adaptivity.
abstract: A proportion of children within the autism spectrum is at risk for severe deregulation of thought, emotion and behaviour resulting in (symptoms of) psychotic disorders over the course of development. In an attempt to identify this subgroup, children with PDD-NOS, subtype MCDD (n = 24) were compared to children with PDD-NOS (n = 23) on executive function (EF) skills. Significant differences emerged, always to the disadvantage of the children with PDD-NOS, subtype MCDD on various EF measures. The findings suggest compromised attention regulation and impaired inhibitory control in children with MCDD, which may help explain high levels of thought problems which are frequently observed in these children. Our findings provide evidence for recognizing a PDD subcategory of MCDD that is of specific interest with regard to long-term developmental risks involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands. srijn@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Rijn
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Sonneville
authors.forename: Bertine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lahuis
authors.forename: Jolijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pieterse
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Engeland
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swaab
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors