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Repetitive Behaviors in Autism and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: New Perspectives from a Network Analysis

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Abstract

The association between autism and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) seems largely dependent upon observed similarities in the repetitive behaviors that manifest in both disorders. The aim of this study was to use a network approach to explore the interactions between these behaviors. We constructed a network based on clinician’s perceptions as well as a network based on 213 clinically diagnosed children. In all networks, autism and OCD emerged as two distinct symptom clusters and obsessions and compulsions showed few direct associations with autism symptoms. Further, sensory interests were identified as behaviors that may contribute to the link between autism and OCD. Through network analysis, we expose the symptom pathways that may lead to the perceived association between autism and OCD.

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Notes

  1. The Perceived Causal Clinician Network is a direct representation of the causal relation between two symptoms as reported by the participating clinicians. Hence we denote this network the Perceived Causal Clinician Network.

  2. The Putative Causal Data Network is an exploratory representation, of the hypothesized causal relationships that result in the structure of the Correlational Data Network. While these causal relations are based on a well-developed causal inference method for correlational data, we have denoted this network the Putative Causal Data Network in order to represent the exploratory nature of these results.

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Acknowledgments

The clinical sample was collected during the PhD of Dr. Hilde M. Geurts at the Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We want to thank her mentors, Jaap Oosterlaan, Joe Sergeant, and Herbert Roeyers for supervising the data collection. We would especially like to thank Sylvie Verté, who collected a large portion of this data during her PhD at the University of Gent, Belgium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development, Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Center for Autism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Laura Ruzzano & Hilde M. Geurts

  2. Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d’Arc), University of Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Laura Ruzzano & Hilde M. Geurts

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Denny Borsboom & Hilde M. Geurts

  4. Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hilde M. Geurts

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  1. Laura Ruzzano
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  2. Denny Borsboom
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  3. Hilde M. Geurts
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Correspondence to Laura Ruzzano.

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Ruzzano, L., Borsboom, D. & Geurts, H.M. Repetitive Behaviors in Autism and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: New Perspectives from a Network Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 192–202 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2204-9

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