title: Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors as Predictors of Outcome in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Questions have been raised about the significance of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in predicting outcomes of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Previous studies have yielded mixed findings, but some suggest that the presence of RRBs during preschool years is a negative prognostic indicator for later childhood. This study examined the effect of RRBs at ages 1-2 and 3-5 years on cognitive functioning, adaptive abilities, and ASD symptomatology at age 8-10 years in 40 children with ASDs. At 1-2 years, RRBs did not predict later functioning. However, at 3-5 years, more severe preoccupations with parts of objects, sensory interests, and stereotyped motor movements predicted less developed cognitive and adaptive skills, and greater ASD symptom severity at age 8-10 years.
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. eva_troyb@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5704-6681
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troyb
authors.affiliation: MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kelley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knoch
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herlihy
authors.affiliation: Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, The Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Treadwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior
keywords: Autism; Circumscribed interests; Outcome; Preoccupations with parts of objects; Repetitive behaviors; Sensory interests; Stereotyped motor movements