title: Application of the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised--Italian version--in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities (RRB) are mandatory features for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders-fifth edition (DSM-5). Despite the strong diagnostic role of RRB, their expressiveness and their relationship with other clinical/demographic features in ASD is not fully elucidated. The Italian version of the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) was applied to a relatively large sample of preschool-aged children with ASD who underwent a comprehensive clinical assessment. The relationship between RRB and sex, age, non-verbal IQ, autism severity, as well as the diagnostic accuracy of the RBS-R were explored. Stereotyped and Ritualistic/Sameness behaviors were the most common RRB in preschoolers with ASD, without widespread differences between males and females. No significant correlations between RRB and chronological age, or non-verbal IQ were detected. The expressiveness of ritualistic/sameness behaviors positively correlated with autism severity, assessed through the Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) derived from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy using the Global Rating Score, which represents the judgment of the parents of as the RRB affect the child's life. However, while the Global Rating Score performed well, the remaining subscales did not. This investigation extends the limited research on early pattern and associated features of RRB in young children with ASD. The use of the RBS-R may increase the knowledge of the RRB complexity and variability and in turn improve the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the autistic spectrum.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: ffulceri@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fulceri
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narzisi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Apicella
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balboni
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brocchini
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Domenici
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerullo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Igliozzi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cosenza
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calderoni
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D014175:Translating
keywords: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD); Diagnostic accuracy; Preschoolers; Repetitive Behaviors Scale-Revised (RBS-R); Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB)