1. Bhaumik S, Tyrer F, Barrett M, Tin N, McGrother CW, Kiani R. {{The relationship between carers’ report of autistic traits and clinical diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders in adults with intellectual disability}}. {Res Dev Disabil} (Feb 24)
It is often difficult to determine the triad of impairments and whether autistic features are the consequence of intellectual impairment or autism spectrum disorders in people with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between carer-reported autistic traits and independent diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Data were collected on carers’ subjective report of autistic traits and clinical diagnoses of ASD. Of 1145 adults with ID identified, 220 (19%) individuals had a diagnosis of ASD, and 778 (68%) individuals had at least one autistic trait. Optimal sensitivity and specificity were achieved with two or more autistic traits (sensitivity 63%; specificity 79%) and the positive predictive value increased substantially as the number of autistic traits increased. However, a significant proportion of individuals with ID who did not have a diagnosis of ASD also displayed autistic traits. Our findings suggest that in the absence of other measures, the presence of autistic traits can serve as a useful proxy measure for ASD in research (and/or clinical settings). However, although information on autistic traits may help healthcare practitioners to identify people with possible ASD, it cannot be used alone to make a formal diagnosis.
2. Chaabane DB, Alber-Morgan SR, Debar RM. {{The effects of parent-implemented pecs training on improvisation of mands by children with autism}}. {J Appl Behav Anal};2009 (Fall);42(3):671-677.
The present study examined the extent to which mothers were able to train their children, 2 boys with autism, to exchange novel pictures to request items using the picture exchange communication system (PECS). Generalization probes assessing each child’s ability to mand for untrained items were conducted throughout conditions. Using a multiple baseline design, results demonstrated that both children improvised by using alternative symbols when the corresponding symbol was unavailable across all symbol categories (colors, shapes, and functions) and that parents can teach their children to use novel pictorial response forms.
3. Dawson M, Gernsbacher MA. {{Effectiveness of intensive autism programmes}}. {Lancet} (Feb 27);375(9716):722-723.
4. Deutsch SI, Urbano MR, Neumann SA, Burket JA, Katz E. {{Cholinergic Abnormalities in Autism: Is There a Rationale for Selective Nicotinic Agonist Interventions?}}. {Clin Neuropharmacol} (Feb 25)
The core dysfunctions of autism spectrum disorders, which include autistic disorder, Asperger disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, include deficits in socialization and communication and a need for the preservation of « sameness; » intellectual impairment and epilepsy are common comorbidities. Data suggest that pathological involvement of cholinergic nuclei and altered expression of acetylcholine receptors, particularly nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, occur in brain of persons with autistic disorder. However, many of these studies involved postmortem tissue from small samples of primarily adult persons. Thus, the findings may reflect compensatory changes and may relate more closely to intellectual impairment and the confounding effects of seizures and medications, as opposed to the core dysfunctions of autism. Nonetheless, because of the roles played by acetylcholine receptors in general, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in particular, in normal processes of attention, cognition, and memory, selective cholinergic interventions should be explored for possible therapeutic effects. Additionally, there are electrophysiological data that complement the clinical observations of frequent comorbid seizure disorders in these patients, suggesting a disturbance in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory tone in the brains of persons with autistic disorders. Conceivably, because the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is located on the surface of gamma-aminobutyric acid inhibitory neurons, selective stimulation of this receptor would promote gamma-aminobutyric acid’s release and restore diminished inhibitory tone. The development of agonists and partial agonists for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and positive allosteric modulators that enhance the efficiency of coupling between the binding of agonist and channel opening should facilitate consideration of clinical trials.
5. Egan CE, Barnes-Holmes D. {{Emergence of tacts following mand training in young children with autism}}. {J Appl Behav Anal};2009 (Fall);42(3):691-696.
This study sought to examine the effects of training mands on the emergence of tacts with the same response forms. Results indicated that training adjective sets as mands resulted in the emergence of adjective sets as tacts under modified, but not standard, antecedent conditions. The findings suggested that the apparent functional independence of mands and tacts may be explained by a lack of appropriate antecedent control over responding.
6. Halayem S, Bouden A, Amado I, Krebs MO, Tabbane K, Halayem M. {{[Adaptation of a soft-signs scale to children with autism spectrum disorders]}}. {Tunis Med};2009 (Oct);87(10):651-655.
BACKGROUND: Neurological soft signs (NSS) are endophenotypic markers of schizophrenia, and their high prevalence in pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) support the existence of the spectrum of psychoses. These NSS were evaluated by standardized scales which were not adapted to children with PDD. AIMS: This study aimed to propose an adaptation for children of a scale of NSS already used in adults. METHODS: 21 children with PDD (11 with autistic disorder, 10 with PDD not otherwise specified) aged 6-12 years and 21 controls matched on age, sex, and cognitive level were included. Evaluating tools were NSS scale of Krebs et al. adapted after a pilot-study with the accordance of its author; the Progressive Matrices of Raven for intellectual level, and ADI-R to confirm diagnosis. RESULTS: Patients were significantly more impaired on total score (p=0,001), motor coordination (p=0,008), motor integration (p=0,000), and sensory integration (p=0,001). There were no difference between patients and controls on abnormal movements and quality of lateralization. CONCLUSION: This adaptation of Krebs et al. scale seems to be a good tool for evaluating NSS in children, especially in those with PDD. A further validation study, including a larger sample is necessary.
7. Mandell DS, Levy SE, Schultz RT. {{Effectiveness of intensive autism programmes – Authors’ reply}}. {Lancet} (Feb 27);375(9716):723.
8. Miguel CF, Yang HG, Finn HE, Ahearn WH. {{Establishing derived textual control in activity schedules with children with autism}}. {J Appl Behav Anal};2009 (Fall);42(3):703-709.
Activity schedules are often used to facilitate task engagement and transition for children with autism. This study evaluated whether conditional discrimination training would serve to transfer the control from activity-schedule pictures to printed words (i.e., derived textual control). Two preschoolers with autism were taught to select pictures and printed words given their dictated names. Following training, participants could respond to printed words by completing the depicted task, match printed words to pictures, and read printed words without explicit training (i.e., emergent relations).
9. Reagon KA, Higbee TS. {{Parent-implemented script fading to promote play-based verbal initiations in children with autism}}. {J Appl Behav Anal};2009 (Fall);42(3):659-664.
We trained 3 mothers of children with autism to create, implement, and systematically fade scripts to promote vocal initiations during play. All 3 children’s scripted and unscripted initiations increased after the introduction and fading of scripts, and unscripted initiations were maintained at the 2-week follow-up. The results indicate that parents of children with autism can successfully implement script-fading procedures in their homes and that these procedures are effective methods to increase vocal initiations during play.
10. Viau R, Arsenault-Lapierre G, Fecteau S, Champagne N, Walker CD, Lupien S. {{Effect of service dogs on salivary cortisol secretion in autistic children}}. {Psychoneuroendocrinology} (Feb 26)
Children with Autism Syndrome Disorders (ASDs) exhibit social, communicative, and behavioral deficits. We know that human interaction with dogs, which is thought to serve as a social catalyst, results in a decrease of cortisol levels in healthy adults. Introducing service dogs to children with ASD is an attractive idea that has received growing attention in recent decades. However, no study has measured the physiological impact of service dogs on these children. Therefore, the goal of our study was to assess the effects of service dogs on the basal salivary cortisol secretion of children with ASD. We measured the salivary cortisol levels of 42 children with ASD in three experimental conditions; prior to and during the introduction of a service dog to their family, and after a short period during which the dog was removed from their family. We compared average cortisol levels and Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) before and during the introduction of the dog to the family and after its withdrawal. We found that the introduction of service dogs translated into a statistically significant diminished CAR. Before the introduction of service dogs, we measured a 58% increase in morning cortisol after awakening, which diminished to 10% when service dogs were present. The increase in morning cortisol jumped back to 48% once the dogs were removed from the families (p<0.05). However, service dogs did not have an effect on the children’s average diurnal cortisol levels. These results show that the CAR of children with ASD is sensitive to the presence of service dogs, which lends support to the potential behavioral benefits of service dogs for children with autism.
