Similarities and differences between children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and those with obsessive compulsive disorder: executive functioning and repetitive behaviour.

Zandt et al. (2009) compared kids and teens with autism to kids and teens with OCD. They gave both groups the same set of executive-function tests. Then they checked if weaker EF scores matched higher repetitive-behavior scores.

Each group showed its own small EF hiccups, but the links to repetitive behavior were tiny and all over the map. In plain words, poor EF did not strongly predict more hand-flapping, lining up toys, or checking locks.

Saunders et al. (2005) saw the same patchy pattern in adults with autism years earlier. Iversen et al. (2021) later pooled 14 studies and found a medium EF-repetition link, a bit stronger than Fiona’s weak ties. Hoyle et al. (2022) helps explain the gap: repetitive acts jump only when kids face two EF loads at once, like stop-and-switch together. Lefebvre et al. (2021) widens the lens, showing first-degree relatives of both ASD and OCD probands look almost alike on repetitive profiles, backing the idea of a shared continuum rather than two separate buckets.

For your next assessment, do not assume that training EF will automatically melt repetitive behavior. Single EF drills may flop; instead, watch moments when the child must inhibit and switch at the same time. If repetition spikes then, teach coping tools right in that dual-demand context. Also, keep an eye on family members—similar quirks in siblings or parents may steer you toward trans-diagnostic supports instead of autism-only plans.