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Repetitive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Similarities and Differences with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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Psychiatric Symptoms and Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Repetitive behaviors are essential features in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Both conditions show a wide range of repetitive behaviors and some of the same repetitive behaviors can be observed in both conditions. Although some children with ASD warrant a separate diagnosis of OCD, there are differences that have important clinical implications. Repetitive behavior in children with OCD is often driven by unwanted and bothersome thoughts that cause anxiety. Compulsive behaviors result in temporary reduction in anxiety, which reinforces the repetitive behavior. In contrast to obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children with OCD, repetitive behaviors may not cause distress for children with ASD. Indeed, distress may occur when the preferred behavior is interrupted. The preoccupations observed in children with ASD reflect areas of restricted interest and are fundamentally different from intrusive and bothersome concerns in children with OCD. Here we review the similarities and differences in repetitive behaviors in ASD and OCD. Examination of similarities and differences may help clinicians disentangle the repetitive behaviors attributable to OCD from those attributable to ASD, plan treatment, and monitor progress.

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, Marcus Autism Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Lawrence Scahill & Saankari A. Challa

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  1. Lawrence Scahill
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  2. Saankari A. Challa
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Correspondence to Lawrence Scahill .

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  1. Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy

    Luigi Mazzone

  2. National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Benedetto Vitiello

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Scahill, L., Challa, S.A. (2016). Repetitive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Similarities and Differences with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In: Mazzone, L., Vitiello, B. (eds) Psychiatric Symptoms and Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29695-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29695-1_3

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