Traits contributing to the autistic spectrum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is increasingly recognised that traits associated with autism reflect a spectrum with no clear boundary between typical and atypical behaviour. Dimensional traits are needed to investigate the broader autism phenotype.

Methods and principal findings

Ninety-three individual measures reflecting components of social, communication and repetitive behaviours characterising autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) were identified between the ages of 6 months and 9 years from the ALSPAC database. Using missing value imputation, data for 13,138 children were analysed. Factor analysis suggested the existence of 7 factors explaining 85% of the variance. The factors were labelled: verbal ability, language acquisition, social understanding, semantic-pragmatic skills, repetitive-st

SUBMITTER: Steer CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2935882 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature