1. Beddows N, Brooks R. {{Inappropriate sexual behaviour in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: what education is recommended and why}}. {Early Interv Psychiatry}. 2015.
AIM: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impairing social skills and communication. Adolescents with ASD have sexual needs, but may not understand their physical and emotional development resulting in inappropriate sexual behaviour. The aim of this review is to describe the type of inappropriate behaviour that presents in these adolescents, explain why such behaviours occur, suggest what education is suitable and identify current gaps in research. METHOD: The databases EMBASE, OVID MEDLINE and PSYCINFO were searched for relevant articles. In total, 5241 articles were found, with an additional 15 sources found via soft searches, of which 42 met inclusion criteria and were subsequently reviewed. RESULTS: Sexual behaviours that occur in these adolescents with ASD include hypermasturbation, public masturbation, inappropriate romantic gestures, inappropriate arousal and exhibitionism. Such behaviours are thought to be caused via a lack of understanding of normal puberty, the absence of appropriate sex education, the severity of their ASD and other associated problems. It is suggested that individualized, repetitive education should be started from an early age in an accessible form. Social skills development is also important before more technical aspects of sex education are taught. CONCLUSION: Despite being such a common problem for schools, institutions and families to manage, it is surprising how sparse literature is particularly regarding why inappropriate behaviour occurs and what education is effective.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
2. Derakhshan N. {{Vagal Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Autism}}. {Ment Illn}. 2015; 7(1): 5788.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
3. Di Renzo M, Bianchi Di Castelbianco F, Petrillo M, Racinaro L, Rea M. {{ASSESSMENT OF A LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONSHIP-BASED APPROACH IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER}}. {Psychol Rep}. 2015.
-90 Italian children (72 boys, 18 girls) with a diagnosis of infantile autism (age range = 2.5-16.5 yr.) were assessed with a non-verbal intelligence test (Leiter-R). The test was repeated 3 times in four years. The measures used were IQ and Fluid Reasoning (FR), as evaluation of inductive and deductive reasoning, and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), indicative of the severity of autistic symptoms at the beginning and at the end of therapy. The increase in the average IQ and FR scores at retests demonstrates the effectiveness of a treatment that emphasizes the centrality of the relationship-based approach. Moreover, the FR score at intake was predictive of a significant decrease of ADOS scores after four years of treatment, and of the increase in IQ observed in later evaluations. The data support the hypothesis that a relationship-based intervention allows cognitive improvement regardless of the autism severity expressed in the ADOS score.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
4. Foss-Feig JH, McPartland JC, Anticevic A, Wolf J. {{Re-conceptualizing ASD Within a Dimensional Framework: Positive, Negative, and Cognitive Feature Clusters}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2015.
Introduction of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria and revision of diagnostic classification for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the latest diagnostic manual call for a new way of conceptualizing heterogeneous ASD features. We propose a novel conceptualization of ASD, borrowing from the schizophrenia literature in clustering ASD features along positive, negative, and cognitive dimensions. We argue that this dimensional conceptualization can offer improved ability to classify, diagnose, and treat, to apply and predict response to treatment, and to explore underlying neural and genetic alterations that may contribute to particular feature clusters. We suggest the proposed conceptualization can advance the field in a manner that may prove clinically and biologically useful for understanding and addressing heterogeneity within ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
5. Gona JK, Newton CR, Rimba K, Mapenzi R, Kihara M, Van de Vijver FJ, Abubakar A. {{Parents’ and Professionals’ Perceptions on Causes and Treatment Options for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in a Multicultural Context on the Kenyan Coast}}. {PLoS One}. 2015; 10(8): e0132729.
OBJECTIVE: To explore parents’ and professionals’ perceived causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on the Kenyan Coast. METHODS: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions using guiding questions were utilized in data collection. One hundred and three participants, who included parents of children with ASD, special needs teachers, clinicians, and social workers from diverse cultural background, participated in this study. The interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and then translated to English. Themes were generated using content analysis. RESULTS: Preternatural causes were mentioned and included evil spirits, witchcraft, and curses. Biomedical causes comprised infections, drug abuse, birth complications, malnutrition, and genetic related problems. Treatment varied from traditional and spiritual healing to modern treatment in health facilities, and included consultations with traditional healers, offering prayers to God, and visits to hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that regardless of cultural backgrounds, people on the Kenyan Coast have similar views on perceived causes and treatment of ASD. These findings provide valuable conceptual understanding for professionals when planning and implementing community based rehabilitation interventions targeting children with ASD within a local context.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
6. Jingru L, Shasha M, Weihui Z. {{Functional analysis of autism-associated NRXN1beta gene promoter}}. {Yi Chuan}. 2015; 37(8): 801-10.
Neurexins are neuron-specific synaptic proteins, and abnormal structure of Neurexin1beta is closely associated with autism. To characterize the minimal promoter of autism-associated NRXN1beta gene and identify functional elements regulating its transcription, luciferase reporter plasmids containing different regulatory regions upstream of NRXN1beta gene were constructed. After transfecting HEK293 cells with these plasmids, the minimal promoter region of NRXN1beta gene was determined by detecting the transcriptional activity of luciferase reporter genes while the corresponding functional elements that significantly enhance or inhibit the activity of reporter genes were further screened out. To identify cis-acting elements, continuous nucleotide mutation within the functional regions and adjacent DNA sequences were generated using site-directed mutagenesis techniques and then transcriptional regulatory elements in corresponding regions were analyzed using transcription factor binding prediction tool. Our results showed for the first time that the minimal promoter region of human NRXN1beta gene is located between positions ?88 and +156 (-88/+156); two regions -88/-73 and +156/+149 enhance while the region +229/+419 inhibits promoter activity. The region -84/-63 significantly enhances promoter activity as cis-acting elements, suggesting the presence of DBP and ABF1 transcription factor binding sites in this region.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
7. Kaslovsky R, Gottsegen D. {{Hypnosis for Asthma and Vocal Cord Dysfunction in a Patient With Autism}}. {Am J Clin Hypn}. 2015; 58(2): 195-203.
Wheezing in children often is the result of asthma, but vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) may cause stridor or sounds that sometimes are misattributed to the wheezing of asthma. The frequent comorbidity of asthma and VCD also adds to the difficulty in making a clear diagnosis. The challenges of evaluating and treating wheezing are complicated further in children with developmental disorders, such as autism, because of the difficulties of obtaining an adequate history and assessing the clinical response to treatment. This article presents a patient with multiple psychiatric problems, including autism, with severe recurrent wheezing as a result of vocal cord dysfunction and asthma. Hypnosis has previously proven efficacious for treating vocal cord dysfunction, and in this case, hypnotic techniques were major factors in successful symptom control.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
8. Kim SH, Macari S, Koller J, Chawarska K. {{Examining the phenotypic heterogeneity of early Autism Spectrum Disorder: subtypes and short-term outcomes}}. {J Child Psychol Psychiatry}. 2015.
BACKGROUND: Phenotypic heterogeneity among toddlers presenting with ASD symptoms complicates diagnostic considerations and limits our ability to predict long-term outcomes. To address this concern, we sought to identify more homogeneous subgroups within ASD based on toddlers’ clinical profiles in the second year of life, evaluating diagnostic stability and clinical outcomes within the subgroups 1-2 years later. METHODS: One hundred toddlers referred for suspected ASD underwent comprehensive assessments at 22 months (SD = 3) and 37 months (SD = 4). At 22 months, they were clustered based on symptom severity, developmental skills, and adaptive functioning. Diagnostic stability and clinical outcomes were evaluated within the clusters. RESULTS: Four clusters characterized by distinct clinical profiles at the time of the first diagnosis were identified. Diagnostic stability was excellent in 3 out of 4 clusters (93%-100%) and was lowest in the initially least affected cluster (85%). Autism symptom severity was stable, except for one group where it increased over time (16% of the sample). A large proportion of toddlers showed significant improvements in verbal and communication skills. Only a small group (17%) exhibited very low levels of functioning and limited gains over time. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic stability and developmental progression from the second to third year of life in toddlers with ASD vary depending on their initial early profiles of relative strengths and deficits. Although a small minority of toddlers with more complex clinical presentations may not retain their diagnoses by the age of three, most children continue to exhibit symptoms of autism. Despite limited improvements in symptom severity, many children show significant gains in verbal functioning. Only a small proportion of children (17%) exhibit very limited gains despite intensive intervention. These findings support continued efforts to examine determinants of developmental trajectories including factors mediating and moderating response to treatment.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
9. Lewis S. {{Genes and disease: Organoids assist in ASD research}}. {Nat Rev Neurosci}. 2015.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
10. Magana S, Lopez K, Machalicek W. {{Parents Taking Action: A Psycho-Educational Intervention for Latino Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Fam Process}. 2015.
The increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among Latino children, later diagnosis, limited access to bicultural specialist support, and worsened health outcomes when compared to non-Latinos points to the need for a culturally relevant parent education intervention. This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a culturally derived intervention, Parents Taking Action, for 19 Spanish-speaking mothers of children with ASD. This study introduces the Promotora de Salud Model of intervention delivery to the autism field. A mixed-methods design including one group pre- and posttest design and focus groups was used to evaluate the outcomes of PTA. We found that the intervention was both feasible to implement and acceptable to participants. We also found significant increases in empowerment oriented outcomes for parents between pre- and posttest suggesting that the intervention is promising. Suggestions for future research and practice are offered.
