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Restrepo B, Angkustsiri K, Taylor SL, et al. Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Autism Res. 2020;13(10):1778-1789doi: 10.1002/aur.2354.
Restrepo, B., Angkustsiri, K., Taylor, S. L., Rogers, S. J., Cabral, J., Heath, B., Hechtman, A., Solomon, M., Ashwood, P., Amaral, D. G., & Nordahl, C. W. (2020). Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 13(10), 1778-1789. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2354
Restrepo, Bibiana, et al. "Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms." Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research vol. 13,10 (2020): 1778-1789. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2354
Restrepo B, Angkustsiri K, Taylor SL, Rogers SJ, Cabral J, Heath B, Hechtman A, Solomon M, Ashwood P, Amaral DG, Nordahl CW. Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Autism Res. 2020 Oct;13(10):1778-1789. doi: 10.1002/aur.2354. Epub 2020 Aug 06. PMID: 32767543; PMCID: PMC7689713.
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Autism Res. 2020 Oct;13(10):1778-1789. doi: 10.1002/aur.2354. Epub 2020 Aug 06.

Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms.

Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research

Bibiana Restrepo, Kathleen Angkustsiri, Sandra L Taylor, Sally J Rogers, Jacqueline Cabral, Brianna Heath, Alexa Hechtman, Marjorie Solomon, Paul Ashwood, David G Amaral, Christine Wu Nordahl

Affiliations

  1. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.
  2. MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.
  5. Department of Community Health, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
  6. Department of Medial Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.

PMID: 32767543 PMCID: PMC7689713 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2354

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are frequently reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We evaluated the frequency and severity of GI symptoms in preschool-aged children with ASD compared to participants with typical development (TD). Our goal was to ascertain whether GI symptoms are associated with differences in sex or developmental and behavioral measures. Participants were between 2 and 3.5 years of age and included 255 children with ASD (184 males/71 females) and 129 age-matched TD controls (75 males/54 females). A parent interview was used to assess GI symptoms (abdominal pain, gaseousness/bloating, diarrhea, constipation, pain on stooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, blood in stool or in vomit). Children with GI symptoms in each diagnostic group were compared to children without GI symptoms on measures of developmental, behavioral, and adaptive functioning. GI symptoms were reported more frequently in children with ASD compared to the TD group (47.8% vs. 17.8%, respectively). Children with ASD were also more likely to experience multiple GI symptoms (30.6% vs. 5.4%). GI symptoms were equally common in males and females across both diagnostic groups. There were no statistically significant differences in developmental or adaptive measures based on presence of GI symptoms in either ASD or TD children. Co-occurring GI symptoms were, however, associated with increased self-injurious behaviors, restricted stereotyped behaviors, aggressive behaviors, sleep problems and attention problems in both ASD and TD children. In children with ASD, a higher number of GI symptoms was associated with an increase in self-injurious behaviors, somatic complaints, reduced sleep duration, and increased parasomnias. LAY SUMMARY: ASD is characterized by challenges in social communication and repetitive behaviors. But, people with autism have many other difficulties including gastrointestinal problems. Children with ASD were three times more likely to experience GI symptoms than typically developing peers. Increased GI symptoms are associated with increased problem behaviors such as sleep problems, self-injury, and body aches. Since GI symptoms are often treatable, it is important to recognize them as soon as possible. Both clinicians and parents should become more aware of the high occurrence of GI problems in autistic people. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1778-1789. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

© 2020 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Keywords: GI dysfunction; GI symptoms; autism; autism spectrum disorder; co-occurring; coexisting; comorbidities; gastrointestinal problems; repetitive behavior

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