Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of aggressive behavior problems in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Children and adolescents with ASD, aged 6?18 years, were included in this study. We divided them into two groups according to the presence or absence of aggressive behavior. They were assessed using three scales, the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Behavior Problem Inventory, and Social Communication Questionnaire, which were completed by their parents, who conducted a continuous performance test to evaluate their attention function. The statistical analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney U-test between the two groups at a p-value of 0.05.

Results: A total of 17 children participated in this study. Ten children (7 boys, 12.4±4.27 years) were included in the group with aggressive behavior problems and 7 children (6 boys, 13.8±3.53 years) in the group without aggressive behavior problems. There were no significant differences in the age, gender or intelligence quotient of the two groups. The children with aggressive behavior problems showed a trend of higher T-scores in the attention problems and anxiety/depressed subscale of the CBLC (p<0.1).

Conclusion: The results suggest that aggressive behavior problems in children with ASD may be related to their attention problems, anxiety and depression.