Quantitative Study On Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors In Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Background: Restricted and repetitive behaviors(RRBs)is a necessary conditions for clinical diagnosis of ASD.The study of measurement for RRBs is helpful to the diagnosis of ASD.Objectives: To explore the characteristics of RRBs in different developmental groups.Methods: This study constructed the Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors Interview Questionnaire(RBIQ).335 children were included in the study and divided into three groups.The ASD group consisted of 119 children(99 males,20 females),age ranged from 1.58 years to 8.67 years with a mean of 3.02(SD=1.07).The NO-ASD group included 104 children with other developmental disorders(84 males,20 females),age ranged from 1.50 years to 11.42 years with a mean of 2.93(SD=1.62).The TD group included 112 children with typical development(67 males,45 females),age ranged from 1.50 years to 8.42 years with a mean of 2.93(SD=1.62).The questionnaire scores and other clinical data of 335 children were analyzed to verify the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Rank-sum test and correlation analysis were used to study the differences of RRBs among different ages,developmental quotient and different developmental groups,and the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was used to explore the score cut point of the questionnaire.Results: The questionnaire had high reliability(Cronbach's ? =0.842)and validity(r=0.309~0.628,p<0.05).The questionnaire score of ASD children was higher than other children,and there was significant difference among the three groups(p=0.000),The relationship of age and questionnaire score were negatively correlated in typical developmental children(r=-0.341,p<0.01).The area under curve(AUC)is 0.892(95% confidence interval: 0.854~0.929,p<0.001),when the Yuden index is 0.639(FPR=0.176,TPR=0.815),the corresponding point is 6.5.Conclusions: This initial study indicates that RBIQ can be used as a tool to evaluate RRBs in children with ASD,and when the score of questionnaire is greater than or equal to 7 points,it is suggested that the child has a serious degree of repetitive stereotyped behavior,combined with clinical manifestations,it is necessary to be alert to ASD.