Stereotypies and restricted and repetitive behaviours in autism (Estereotipias y conductas restrictivas y repetitivas en autismo)

In 1999 Ángel Rivière highlights the need to increase research on restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRB) in autism. These RRBs comprise the eighth dimension of his Autism Spectrum Inventory. This dimension was organized in a single axis, Flexibility, and linked the processes of Anticipation and Sense of the Activity. He linked these three dimensions with the executive dysfunction described in the disorder. In 20 years of research, advances have focused on the characterization of these RRBs. Subtypes have been defined: Repetitive Sensory Motor Behaviours-RSM (typically stereotypies) and Insistence on Sameness-IS (repetitive rituals and interests). The underlying processes and connections with other especially relevant variables, such as sensory atypicality, intolerance to uncertainty and anxiety, are being studied. The findings allow us to reorganize the perspective of the connections proposed by Rivière between the RRBs and executive dysfunction. These two decades have resulted in a vision with a greater focus on the individual and personal well-being, which opens the field to the application of other study methodologies.