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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Psychiatry

Research progress on developmental characteristics and clinical intervention of restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a narrative review

  • Lei Zhou1,2,3,4
  • Ying Dai1,2,3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Growth, Development and Mental Health Center of Children and Adolescents, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
  2. 2Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders
  3. 3National Clinical Research Center for Children and Adolescents’ Health and Diseases
  4. 4Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders
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Abstract

Restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom domain of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a significant impact on social interaction, learning, and overall functioning of autistic individuals. Clinical features of RRBs in ASD encompass repetitive sensorimotor (RSM) behaviors and insistence on sameness (IS). Taking a lifespan approach, this narrative review synthesizes current understanding of the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms associated with RRBs, together with their clinical manifestations during each developmental phase, and discusses recent advances in clinical interventions. Importantly, the available evidence is not distributed evenly across the lifespan: RRBs have been studied far more extensively in early childhood, whereas evidence concerning middle-aged and older autistic adults remains very limited. This review therefore does not imply that the evidence base is equally strong at every life stage. It aims to provide a practical clinical reference for professionals in pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, and related fields.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{zhou2026research,
  title = {{Research progress on developmental characteristics and clinical intervention of restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a narrative review}},
  author = {Lei Zhou and Ying Dai},
  journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1995599},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1995599/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Research progress on developmental characteristics and clinical intervention of restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a narrative review
AU  - Lei Zhou
AU  - Ying Dai
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO  - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1995599
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1995599/full
AB  - Restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom domain of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a significant impact on social interaction, learning, and overall functioning of autistic individuals. Clinical features of RRBs in ASD encompass repetitive sensorimotor (RSM) behaviors and insistence on sameness (IS). Taking a lifespan approach, this narrative review synthesizes current understanding of the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms associated with RRBs, together with their clinical manifestations during each developmental phase, and discusses recent advances in clinical interventions. Importantly, the available evidence is not distributed evenly across the lifespan: RRBs have been studied far more extensively in early childhood, whereas evidence concerning middle-aged and older autistic adults remains very limited. This review therefore does not imply that the evidence base is equally strong at every life stage. It aims to provide a practical clinical reference for professionals in pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, and related fields.
SN  - 1664-0640
ER  -