• Home
  • Store
    • Newsletter Subscriptions
    • Multimedia
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN SA Courses
    • Social Work Courses
  • CME Center
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Blog
    • Psychiatry News Videos
    • Medication Guide Videos
  • Newsletters
    • General Psychiatry
    • Child Psychiatry
    • Addiction Treatment
    • Hospital Psychiatry
    • Geriatric Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapy and Social Work
  • FAQs
  • Med Fact Book App
  • Log In
  • Register
  • Welcome
  • Sign Out
  • Subscribe
Home » Understanding Tantrums in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Understanding Tantrums in Autism Spectrum Disorder

September 1, 2017
Joshua Feder, MD
From The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
Issue Links: Learning Objectives | Editorial Information | PDF of Issue
New editor-in-chief of the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report. Dr. FederJoshua Feder, MD Editor-in-chief, CCPR Dr. Feder has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Review of: Mayes S et al, J Dev Phys Disabil 2017;29(4):587–596

Why do children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have tantrums? One theory is that these tantrums are due in part to children’s frustration with not being able to express themselves. This theory has led to a treatment approach called “mand training.” A mand is a verbal request, and mand training seeks to help children with ASD make simple requests more effectively. In theory, therefore, the improvement in communication would decrease the likelihood of frustration-induced tantrums. A recent study, however, reported results that are at odds with the tantrum-as-miscommunication theory.

In this cross-sectional cohort study, 240 children ages 15–71 months with confirmed diagnoses of ASD were administered the Early Intervention Developmental Profile and WPPSI-III or Bayley verbal and nonverbal IQ tests depending on their level of function. Parents then reported on both tantrum frequency and speech intelligibility using the Pediatric Behavior Scales. ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses showed that expressive language, receptive language, and nonverbal IQ each accounted for 2%–3% of the variance in tantrum frequencies. Moreover, children with expressive language age equivalent ≥ 24 months had more tantrums than those < 24 months, with a moderate effect size (d = 0.4).

CCPR’s Take
Although the study was limited by its reliance on parental reports of tantrums, the main finding is that impaired speech was not the primary cause of tantrums in these children. The article underlines the need to understand behavior from a more holistic perspective, rather than focusing on a single aspect of behavior. Include an assessment of sensory sensitivities, motor planning problems, and rigidity of thinking and expectations as well as the parent-child relationship. In addition, sometimes children resist behavioral training efforts because they may prefer to interact in ways that feel more meaningful to them.
Child Psychiatry
KEYWORDS autism-spectrum-disorder child-psychiatry research-update
    Eic photo joshua d feder md jpg 150x150
    Joshua Feder, MD

    SSRIs and Hydroxyzine for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?

    More from this author
    www.thecarlatreport.com
    Issue Date: September 1, 2017
    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Table Of Contents
    Take The CME Post-Test for ADHD in Children and Adolescents, CCPR, September/October 2017
    Choosing Medications for ADHD
    Is Modafinil an Effective Alternative for the Treatment of ADHD?
    Can Strattera Improve Reading Skills in Children With Dyslexia?
    Understanding Tantrums in Autism Spectrum Disorder
    New Editor-in-Chief, Joshua D. Feder!
    An Integrative Approach to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
    Official 2017 Carlat ADHD Pediatric Stimulant Comparison Table
    DOWNLOAD NOW
    Featured Book
    • PB4e_Cover2.png

      Psychiatry Practice Boosters, Fourth Edition (2023)

      Teaches you the key points of 63 of the most clinically relevant studies in psychiatry.
      READ MORE
    Featured Video
    • KarXT (Cobenfy)_ The Breakthrough Antipsychotic That Could Change Everything.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      KarXT (Cobenfy): The Breakthrough Antipsychotic That Could Change Everything

      Read More
    Featured Podcast
    • shutterstock_2622607431.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      Should You Test MTHFR?

      MTHFR is a...
      Listen now
    Recommended
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png

    About

    • About Us
    • CME Center
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us

    Shop Online

    • Newsletters
    • Multimedia Subscriptions
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN Self-Assessment Courses

    Newsletters

    • The Carlat Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report
    • The Carlat Hospital Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Geriatric Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Psychotherapy Report

    Contact

    carlat@thecarlatreport.com

    866-348-9279

    PO Box 626, Newburyport MA 01950

    Follow Us

    Please see our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Subscription Agreement, Use of Cookies, and Hardware/Software Requirements to view our website.

    © 2025 Carlat Publishing, LLC and Affiliates, All Rights Reserved.