Joint trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder

Dev Psychopathol. 2017 Feb;29(1):203-214. doi: 10.1017/S0954579416000043. Epub 2016 Feb 5.

Abstract

The co-occurring development of internalizing and externalizing problems were examined in an inception cohort of 392 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3 who were assessed on four occasions. Results indicated that internalizing and externalizing problems were stable over time and highly comorbid. Joint trajectory analysis suggested that 13% of the sample followed a dual high-risk trajectory. High risk was not found to be associated with intellectual ability or autism spectrum disorder symptom severity but was linked to lower income and gender: more girls than boys were found in the high/stable internalizing problems trajectory. The results suggest that 1 in 4 preschoolers followed a trajectory of internalizing or externalizing problems (or a combination of the two) that could be characterized as clinically elevated.

MeSH terms

  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Problem Behavior / psychology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors