Abstract:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are often accompanied by an array of behavior problems such as self-injurious behavior (SIB), aggression, and stereotypic behavior (Matson et al., 2011). Recent estimates of prevalence rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders in ASD have ranged between approximately 70% to 84% (Gjevik, Eldevik, Fjæran-Granum, & Sponheim, 2011; Simonoff et al., 2008). Many studies have shown associations between the presence of comorbid psychopathology and challenging behaviors in children with ASD (Matson et al., 2011). Of the psychiatric disorders, anxiety disorder is the most commonly found among children (Simonoff et al., 2008). Research suggests comorbid psychiatric disorders may be contributing factors in the wide variability of behaviors seen in individuals with ASD. The majority of studies that examined comorbid psychopathology and problem behavior have focused on adults, adolescents, and older children with ASD.
