Cluster analysis of autism spectrum disorder symptomatology: Qualitatively distinct subtypes or quantitative degrees of severity of a single disorder?

Title
Cluster analysis of autism spectrum disorder symptomatology: Qualitatively distinct subtypes or quantitative degrees of severity of a single disorder?
Publication Date
2018-05
Author(s)
Bitsika, Vicki
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2518-6684
Email: vbitsik2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:vbitsik2
Arnold, Wayne M
Sharpley, Christopher F
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-4848
Email: csharpl3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:csharpl3
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1016/j.ridd.2018.03.006
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/26730
Abstract
The decision to collapse several related disorders into a single diagnosis of Autism SpectrumDisorder (ASD) generated significant controversy and debate. There has been mixed evidence asto whether various ASD subtypes are qualitatively distinct or if they exist on a spectrum ofsymptom severity. The present study conducted a two-step cluster analysis of major ASDsymptoms in a sample of 147 young males with ASD aged between 6yr and 18yr with IQ > 70.Results indicated that a two-cluster solution (high and low severity of ASD symptomatology) wasreliable and valid. Further, the construct of challenging behaviour was not a necessary compo-nent of the two-cluster solution, verifying the new conceptualisation of ASD. Further replicationof thesefindings with other subsets of individuals with ASD is needed.
Link
Citation
Research in Developmental Disabilities, v.76, p. 65-75
ISSN
1873-3379
0891-4222
Start page
65
End page
75

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