Detecting subgroups in children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified.
Hierarchical cluster analyses were used to detect three subgroups in a sample of children with pervasive developmental disorder--not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) evaluated at ages 2 and 4. At age 2, Cluster 1 demonstrated few autism symptoms and high cognitive scores; 60% no longer met criteria for PDD at 4. Cluster 2 exhibited more autism symptoms and lower cognitive scores at 2; 89.5% met criteria for ASD at 4. Cluster 3 had the lowest cognitive scores and most impaired social/communication skills at 2, but no repetitive behaviors; 60% diagnosed with Autistic Disorder at 4. Results shed light on outcomes for different PDD-NOS types and raise questions regarding the increased importance of repetitive behaviors in DSM-5.
Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269-1020, USA, laura.brennan@uconn.edu.
Laura
L
Brennan
Marianne
M
Barton
Chi-Ming
CM
Chen
James
J
Green
Deborah
D
Fein
D000367:Age Factors; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*