Age of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic information of study sample (N = 129)

		n	%
Age of Diagnosis
	0–24 Months	7	5.4
	25–48 Months	53	41.1
	49–72 Months	31	24.0
	73–96 Months	16	12.4
	97–120 Months	8	6.2
	121–144 Months	8	6.2
	145–168 Months	2	1.6
	169–192 Months	3	2.3
	Above 193 Months	1	0.8
Medication
	Anticonvulsants	8	6.2
	Antidepressants	7	5.5
	Stimulants	4	3.1
	Atypical Antipsychotics	4	3.1
	Laxatives	12	9.3
	Antihistamines	4	3.1
	Proton-pump Inhibitors	2	1.6
	Antispasmodic	3	2.3
	Corticosteroids	2	1.6
	Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists	2	1.6
	Central Alpha Agonists	2	1.6
	Hormones	23	17.8
	Nutritional Supplements	5	3.9
	Other	8	6.2
Intervention
	Applied Behavior Analysis	24	18.6
	Eclectic	22	17.1
	Other	83	64.3

Table 2. Means and standard deviations for subscales of the BPI-S (N = 129)

Subscale	M	SD
SIB Frequency	4.78	4.53
SIB Severity	3.93	3.62
Aggressive/Destructive Behavior Frequency	8.47	7.89
Aggressive/Destructive Behavior Severity	7.22	6.64
Stereotyped Behavior Frequency	15.64	8.91

Table 3. Pearson’s Correlations of age of ASD Diagnosis and Challenging Behavior subcategories (BPI-S)

		1	2	3	4	5	6
1	Age of ASD Diagnosis
2	SIB Frequency	−.25**	−.08
3	SIB Severity	−.19*	−.07	.89**
4	Aggressive/Destructive Behavior Frequency	−.05	.12	.64**	.59**
5	Aggressive/Destructive Behavior Severity	.02	.07	.58**	.57**	.92**
6	Stereotyped Behavior Frequency	−.28**	−.29*	.54**	.58**	.42**	.39**

Note. * significant at the .05 level; **significant at the .01 level.

Table 4. Hierarchical regression for predictors of GI symptoms (GSI total)

Step	Variable	ß	ΔR^2	Δ Adj R^2	F change
1	Age	.08
	Gender	.12
	ID	.06
	Medication	−.15
	Intervention	−.09	.05	.02	1.38
2	Age of ASD Diagnosis	.17	.07	.02	2.06
3	Total ASD-CC	.22**	.11	.06	5.95**
4	Total BPI-S	.13	.12	.07	1.46

Note. Significance level: *p < .05, **p < .01.

Table 5. Hierarchical regression for predictors of challenging behavior (BPI-S total)

Block	Variable	ß	ΔR^2	Δ Adj R^2	F change
1	Age	−.17
	Gender	−.03
	ID	−.13
	Medication	−.16
	Intervention	−.01	.07	.03	1.83
2	Age of ASD Diagnosis	.11	.08	.03	.95
3	Total ASD-CC	.50**	.31	.27	40.53**
4	Total GSI	.10	.32	.27	1.46

Note. Significance level: *p < .05, **p < .01

Table 6. Hierarchical regression for predictors of comorbid psychopathology (ASD-CC total)

Block	Variable	ß	ΔR^2	Δ Adj R^2	F change
1	Age	.06
	Gender	.04
	ID	−.10
	Medication	−.20*
	Intervention	−.02	.06	.02	1.61
2	Age of ASD Diagnosis	.02	.06	.02	.040
3	Total BPI-S	.51**	.30	.26	40.53**
4	Total GSI	.12	.31	.27	2.27

Note. Significance level: *p < .05, **p < .01.

Steiner AM, Goldsmith TR, Snow AV, Chawarska K. Practitioner’s guide to assessment of autism spectrum disorders in infants and toddlers. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012;42(6):1183–96. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1376-9.

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