A Comparison of Behavioral and Emotional Characteristics in Children with Autism, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Williams Syndrome

In order to investigate unique and shared characteristics and to determine factors predictive of group classification, quantitative comparisons of behavioral and emotional problems were assessed using the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC-P) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales in autistic disorder, Williams syndrome (WS), and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The DBC-P Total Behavior Problem Score did not differ between groups. However, at the subscale level, the autism group showed more behavioral and emotional problems in the Self-Absorbed and Communication Disturbance domains than the WS and PWS group. Discriminant analysis revealed 16 variables that predicted group membership with 90.9% accuracy. Within-group analyses revealed problems decreased with age among individuals with autism. However, as people with WS aged, they had greater difficulty with Social Relating. Distinct age and IQ correlates of adaptive behavior among groups were also found. These findings both confirm and refine the behavioral phenotypes of these developmental disorders.