31907
Identifying Correlates of Adaptive Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Pond Network Investigation

Poster Presentation
Friday, May 3, 2019: 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
Room: 710 (Palais des congres de Montreal)
T. S. Park1, C. Hammill2, P. Szatmari2, S. Ameis3, R. Schachar4, E. Anagnostou5 and M. C. Lai2, (1)University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, (2)The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, (3)The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth, & Family Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada, (4)Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, (5)Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
Background: Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), have deficits in adaptive functioning that impair their ability to meet every day needs. Evidence consistently demonstrates IQ alone does not predict adaptive functioning in individuals with ASD and very few studies have examined correlates of adaptive functioning across NDDs. Given that NDDs may share underlying neurobiological mechanisms, better understanding of adaptive functioning and its correlates across NDDs can aid treatment planning and outcome monitoring.

Objectives: To examine the association of both NDD categorical diagnoses and dimensional NDD traits cutting across diagnoses on adaptive functioning.

Methods: Study data were obtained from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network. Sample consisted of 2258 participants aged 3-18 years who are typically developing (n=364) or have clinical categorical diagnoses of ASD, ADHD, OCD, or ID. Behavioural variables-of-interest were obtained from psychometrically validated subscales of Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Repetitive Behaviors Scale–Revised (RBS-R), Toronto Obsessive-Compulsive Rating Scale (TOCS), Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Rating Scales (SWAN), and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Adaptive functioning in conceptual, practical, and social domains was measured by the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, 2nd Edition (ABAS-II). Elasticnet regularized regression was performed in R. False discovery rate correction was performed on approximate t-statistics to identify significant correlates across all regression outcomes.

Results: Having an ASD diagnosis and exhibiting higher levels of inattention were significant correlates of poorer adaptive functioning across all three domains. Severity of restricted interests in behaviour (measured by RBS-R) and repetitiveness (measured by SCQ) both had significant negative effects in conceptual and social domains.

Conclusions: An ASD diagnosis and dimensional traits of inattentiveness and repetitiveness are most associated with poorer adaptive functioning in children and youth. Increased understanding of adaptive functioning and specific correlates across NDDs can lead to better clinical assessment, tailored interventions, and improved transition to adulthood for children and adolescents with NDDs.

See more of: Pediatrics
See more of: Pediatrics