title: Emotional and behavioural problems in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency, pervasiveness, associated features, and persistence of emotional and behavioural problems in a community sample of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents (n=277) and teachers (n=228) of 4- to 8-year-olds completed the Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC). Intellectual ability and autism symptomatology were also assessed. A subsample repeated the DBC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three-quarters of the cohort scored above the clinical cut-off on the Developmental Behaviour Checklist Primary Carer Version (DBC-P) questionnaire; almost two-thirds of these scored above cut-off on the Developmental Behaviour Checklist Teacher Version (DBC-T) questionnaire. In 81%, problems persisted above threshold 14 months later. Higher DBC-P scores were associated with greater autism symptomatology, higher deprivation index, parental unemployment, and more children in the home but not with parental education or ethnicity, or child's age or sex. Children with IQ>70 scored higher for disruptive behaviour, depression, and anxiety symptoms; those with IQ<70 scored higher for self-absorption and hyperactivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DBC identifies a range of additional behaviour problems that are common in ASD and which could be the focus for specific intervention. The results highlight the potential benefit of systematic screening for co-existing problems.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurosciences, Newcomen Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, London, UK.|Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.|Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Howlin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.|National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonoff
authors.affiliation: Kaleidoscope - Lewisham Centre for Children and Young People, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Bromley Healthcare CIC Ltd, London, UK.
authors.forename: Evelin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Charman
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurosciences, Newcomen Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales