1. Buzhardt J, Rusinko L, Heitzman-Powell L, Trevino-Maack S, McGrath A. {{Exploratory Evaluation and Initial Adaptation of a Parent Training Program for Hispanic Families of Children with Autism}}. {Fam Process};2015 (Mar 16)
The present paper takes a translational approach in applying the themes of the current special section to prevention and intervention science in Latino families. The paper reviews the current literature on cultural processes in prevention and intervention research with Latino families. Overall, many prevention and intervention programs have either been developed specifically for Latino families or have been modified for Latino families with great attention paid to the socio-cultural needs of these families. Nevertheless, few studies have tested the role of cultural values or acculturation processes on outcomes. We make recommendations based on findings within basic science and in particular this special section on the incorporation of these values and processes into prevention and intervention science with Latino families.
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2. Karaminis T, Turi M, Neil L, Badcock NA, Burr D, Pellicano E. {{Atypicalities in perceptual adaptation in autism do not extend to perceptual causality}}. {PLoS One};2015;10(3):e0120439.
A recent study showed that adaptation to causal events (collisions) in adults caused subsequent events to be less likely perceived as causal. In this study, we examined if a similar negative adaptation effect for perceptual causality occurs in children, both typically developing and with autism. Previous studies have reported diminished adaptation for face identity, facial configuration and gaze direction in children with autism. To test whether diminished adaptive coding extends beyond high-level social stimuli (such as faces) and could be a general property of autistic perception, we developed a child-friendly paradigm for adaptation of perceptual causality. We compared the performance of 22 children with autism with 22 typically developing children, individually matched on age and ability (IQ scores). We found significant and equally robust adaptation aftereffects for perceptual causality in both groups. There were also no differences between the two groups in their attention, as revealed by reaction times and accuracy in a change-detection task. These findings suggest that adaptation to perceptual causality in autism is largely similar to typical development and, further, that diminished adaptive coding might not be a general characteristic of autism at low levels of the perceptual hierarchy, constraining existing theories of adaptation in autism.
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3. Kim YJ, Park JK, Kang WS, Kim SK, Park HJ, Nam M, Kim JW. {{LAMB1 polymorphism is associated with autism symptom severity in Korean autism spectrum disorder patients}}. {Nord J Psychiatry};2015 (Mar 16):1-5.
BACKGROUND: LAMB1 encodes laminin beta-1, which is expressed during early development of the human nervous system, and could be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. AIMS: In our study, we aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LAMB1 were associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with related clinical severities of ASD. METHODS: Two coding SNPs (rs20556 and rs25659) and two intronic SNPs (rs2158836 and rs2237659) were compared between 180 patients with ASD and 147 healthy control subjects using direct sequencing. The Korean version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (K-CARS) was used to assess clinical severities. Multiple logistic regression models were employed to analyze genetic data, and associations with symptom severity were tested with the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: None of the four examined SNPs was associated with ASD risk. However, the GG genotype of rs2158836 was associated with more severe symptoms for the « object use » and « non-verbal communication » measures. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest the association between rs2158836 polymorphisms and symptom severity in ASD.
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4. Saloviita T, Pirttimaa R, Kontu E. {{Parental Perceptions of the Use of Coercive Measures on Children with Developmental Disabilities}}. {J Appl Res Intellect Disabil};2015 (Mar 16)
BACKGROUND: Children with developmental disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviour are potentially subject to the use of coercive interventions. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of the use of coercive measures by authorities, according to parents’ reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A postal survey was distributed, as a total population study, to 946 Finnish parents of children with developmental disabilities, between the ages of 5 and 15, and who were entitled to the highest disability allowance. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 54 (22%) answered ‘yes’ when asked whether their child had been subjected to coercive procedures by authorities. The parents had seldom approved the use of coercive means and often believed that such means had negative effects on their child. CONCLUSIONS: To protect the children’s rights, the use of coercive measures should be regulated more strictly, and positive intervention strategies should be taught to teachers and nurses.
