title: Aggressive behaviors and treatable risk factors of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Aggressive behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common. We conducted this study to describe the aggressive mode of preschool children with ASD and examine the associations between specific aggressive behaviors and two treatable factors: sleep problems and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. In total, 577 typically developing (TD) children and 490 children with ASD were investigated in this study. The Institute for Basic Research - Modified Overt Aggression Scale (IBR-MOAS) was used to assess aggressive behaviors. Children's social impairments, sleep problems and ADHD symptoms were also measured with specific scales. The total IBR-MOAS score was significantly higher (worse) in the TD group [4.47 (5.36)] than in the ASD group [3.47 (5.63), P = 0.004]. The aggressive modes differed between groups: when compared with each other, the TD group received higher scores on Verbal and Physical Aggression Toward Others (all P < 0.01), while the ASD group had higher scores on Physical Aggression Against Self (P = 0.006). The linear regression model demonstrated that the aggressive behaviors of children with ASD were significantly associated with two treatable factors: sleep problems and ADHD symptoms. These findings have substantial clinical implications: treatment of these two risk factors may be helpful in managing aggressive behavior in children with ASD. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1155-1162. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R.China, GuangFu West Road 1347#, Shanghai 200063, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Shandong Mental Health Center, 49 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guang-Lei
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Xun
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R.China, GuangFu West Road 1347#, Shanghai 200063, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Xiong
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China. School of Education, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ren-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ou
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: ADHD symptoms; aggressive behaviors; autism spectrum disorder; sleep problems; treatable risk factors