Stability and change among high-functioning children with pervasive developmental disorders: a 2-year outcome study

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Autism and Asperger syndrome are neurodevelopmental disorders within the autism spectrum.
• Distinguishing between these subtypes is crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively compare the 2-year outcomes of children diagnosed with autism versus Asperger syndrome.
• To analyze symptom severity and developmental changes in social interaction, communication, and repetitive activities.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study comparing children aged 6-8 years at diagnosis.
• Utilized the Autism Diagnostic Interview to assess symptoms over a 2-year period.
• Analyzed differences in three-domain summary scores and individual symptom items, controlling for IQ.

Main Results:

• The Asperger syndrome group consistently showed fewer/less severe symptoms in social interaction, communication, and repetitive activities.
• A trend towards converging trajectories was observed in socialization and communication, but not repetitive activities.
• The autism group improved on more items, while the Asperger syndrome group showed increased severity on more items.

Conclusions:

• Autism and Asperger syndrome may follow similar developmental paths but Asperger syndrome retains a symptom advantage.
• Findings suggest distinct, yet related, developmental trajectories for these autism spectrum subtypes.
• Results have implications for educational and clinical interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders.