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Dysregulation in Children and Adolescents Presenting to a Multidisciplinary Autism Clinic

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Abstract

Research indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently exhibit dysregulation, which refers to poorly coordinated affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses to a given situation. We examined the characteristics of dysregulation in children presenting to a multidisciplinary ASD clinic for an ASD diagnostic evaluation. Sixty percent of children presenting for an ASD evaluation exhibited dysregulation. Dysregulation prevalence was higher in children without ASD versus with ASD (69% versus 56%). Severe dysregulation was higher in children without ASD (29% versus 16%). Both groups with severe dysregulation were equally likely to be taking psychiatric medications, however, children with ASD were less likely to be receiving therapy. These findings highlight the importance of implementing dysregulation screening and treatment protocols in ASD centers.

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Author notes

  1. Rachel G. McDonald

    Present address: Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21211, USA

    Roma A. Vasa, Vini Singh, Ji Su Hong & Amy Keefer

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O’Hara Street, Webster Hall Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Carla Mazefsky

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Roma A. Vasa & Amy Keefer

Authors
  1. Roma A. Vasa
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  2. Vini Singh
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  3. Rachel G. McDonald
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  4. Carla Mazefsky
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  5. Ji Su Hong
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  6. Amy Keefer
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Contributions

Study conception and design (R.V., A.K.), data collection (V.S.), statistical analyses (V.S.), interpretation of results (all authors), draft manuscript (R.V.), critical review of the manuscript (all authors).

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Correspondence to Roma A. Vasa.

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Vasa, R.A., Singh, V., McDonald, R.G. et al. Dysregulation in Children and Adolescents Presenting to a Multidisciplinary Autism Clinic. J Autism Dev Disord 52, 1762–1770 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05056-y

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