Latent profiles of autism symptoms in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.
D J Fidler, M A Prince, K Van Deusen, A J Esbensen, A J Thurman, L Abbeduto, L Patel, C Mervis, E K Schworer, N R Lee, J O Edgin, S Hepburn, S Davis, L A Daunhauer
Author Information
D J Fidler: Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. ORCID
M A Prince: Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
K Van Deusen: Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
A J Esbensen: Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Campus, Cincinnati, OH, USA. ORCID
A J Thurman: Department of Psychiatry, MIND Institute, University of California - Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA.
L Abbeduto: Department of Psychiatry, MIND Institute, University of California - Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA.
L Patel: Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
C Mervis: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. ORCID
E K Schworer: Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Campus, Cincinnati, OH, USA. ORCID
N R Lee: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
J O Edgin: Sonoran University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
S Hepburn: Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
S Davis: Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
L A Daunhauer: Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is associated with elevated rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism symptomatology. To better characterise heterogeneity in ASD symptomatology in DS, profiles of caregiver-reported ASD symptoms were modelled for children and adolescents with DS. METHODS: Participants (n = 125) were recruited through several multi-site research studies on cognition and language in DS. Using the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2; Constantino and Gruber 2012), two latent profile analyses (LPA) were performed, one on the broad composite scores of social communication and interaction and restricted interests and repetitive behaviour, and a second on the four social dimensions of social communication, social motivation, social awareness, and social cognition. RESULTS: A three-profile model was the best fit for both analyses, with each analysis yielding a low ASD symptom profile, an elevated or mixed ASD symptom profile and a high ASD symptom profile. Associations were observed between profile probability scores and IQ, the number of co-occurring biomedical conditions reported, sex, and SRS-2 form. CONCLUSIONS: Characterising heterogeneity in ASD symptom profiles can inform more personalised supports in this population, and implications for potential therapeutic approaches for individuals with DS are discussed.
