title: Aggressive Behaviors and Verbal Communication Skills in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Aggressive behavior is a common problem among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and could negatively affect family functioning and school and social competence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between aggressive behavior, such as self-aggression and other-aggression, with verbal communication ability and IQ level in children with ASD. The sample examined in this study included 88 children with a diagnosis of ASD. For the purposes of our study, much attention was focused on individual items of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised that were useful to evaluate the aggressive behavior. We have not found any association between aggressive behavior (other-aggression and self-aggression) and the absence of language or low IQ in children with ASD. Thus, the degree of severity of autism is probably the most important risk factor for this behavior.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Giacomo
authors.affiliation: University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Terenzio
authors.affiliation: University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Gloria
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Campa
authors.affiliation: University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passeri
keywords: ASD; aggressive behaviors; autism spectrum disorder; neurocognitive endophenotype; verbal communication skills