1. Lewis LF. {{Realizing a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder as an adult}}. {Int J Ment Health Nurs};2016 (Mar 4)
Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder are not diagnosed until adulthood, yet little is known about their experiences. This descriptive phenomenological study aimed to explore the experience of realizing a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in adulthood. A purposive sample of 77 adults was asked to describe their experiences of realizing a diagnosis as adults via an open-ended online survey. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s method and six themes were derived: feeling different from others, riding an emotional rollercoaster, striving to accept themselves, strategizing to improve their lives, maintaining normalcy, and wandering into the future. Nurses must realize the importance of screening for depression following a new diagnosis. Barriers to reaching a formal diagnosis should also be evaluated.
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2. Niinomi K, Asano M, Kadoma A, Yoshida K, Ohashi Y, Furuzawa A, Yamamoto M, Yamakita N, Mori A. {{Developing the « Skippu-Mama » program for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Nurs Health Sci};2016 (Mar 4)
The « Skippu-Mama » peer support program was developed to improve quality of life and reduce parental stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. The program was designed to improve these variables by refreshing and healing participants’ minds and bodies. Twenty-four mothers of 26 children diagnosed with ASD in Japan were included in the study and completed measures of quality of life and parental stress before, during, and after participation in the Skippu-Mama program. Our results demonstrated that time was a significant main effect. Further, multiple comparisons with Bonferroni corrections indicated a significant increase in World Health Organization Quality of Life 26 scores three months into the program and at its conclusion six months after commencement. Overall, the Skippu-Mama program improved the quality of life of mothers of children with ASD, and we believe that the intervention’s focus on both individual and family variables may be especially effective in this population.
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3. Siniscalco D, Mijatovic T, Bosmans E, Cirillo A, Kruzliak P, Lombardi VC, K DEM, Antonucci N. {{Decreased Numbers of CD57+CD3- Cells Identify Potential Innate Immune Differences in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {In Vivo};2016 (03-04);30(2):83-89.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex, and severe heterogeneous neurodevelopmental pathologies with accepted but complex immune system abnormalities. Additional knowledge regarding potential immune dysfunctions may provide a greater understanding of this malady. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CD57+CD3- mature lymphocyte subpopulation of natural killer cells as a marker of immune dysfunction in ASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-color flow cytometry-based analysis of fresh peripheral blood samples from children with autism was utilized to measure CD57+CD3- lymphocytes. RESULTS: A reduction of CD57+CD3- lymphocyte count was recorded in a significant number of patients with autism. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the number of peripheral CD57+CD3- cells in children with autism often falls below the clinically accepted normal range. This implies that a defect in the counter-regulatory functions necessary for balancing pro-inflammatory cytokines exists, thus opening the way to chronic inflammatory conditions associated with ASD.
