Pubmed du 17/02/21
1. Buckley E, Pellicano E, Remington A. Higher levels of autistic traits associated with lower levels of self-efficacy and wellbeing for performing arts professionals. PLoS One. 2021 ; 16(2) : e0246423.
This study sought for the first time to identify the extent to which autistic people are pursuing careers in the performing arts, and to determine the nature of the relationship between individuals’ autistic traits and their reported wellbeing. To address these aims, we recruited a self-selecting, community-based sample of individuals working in the performing arts and invited them to complete an online survey. A total of 1,427 respondents took part. We collected responses on participants’ backgrounds, including diagnostic history as well as measures assessing their level of autistic traits, perceived occupational self-efficacy, quality of life, and mental health. They were also asked open-ended questions about support needed, received, or desired in their workplace. Eleven of the 1,427 professionals (1%) reported a clinical diagnosis of autism. Correlational analyses demonstrated that higher levels of autistic traits were significantly associated with lower levels of quality of life, lower levels of occupational self-efficacy and greater severity of mental health conditions. Almost half the sample of professionals (N = 621 ; 44%) reported a desire for more employment-based support, and autistic traits were significantly higher in those participants who wanted greater support. Within the community of those working in the performing arts, there are a minority of individuals who are autistic or who have high levels of autistic traits. We have demonstrated for the first time that these individuals may be especially vulnerable to lower wellbeing.
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2. Drimalla H, Scheffer T, Landwehr N, Baskow I, Roepke S, Behnia B, Dziobek I. Towards the automatic detection of social biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder : introducing the simulated interaction task (SIT). NPJ digital medicine. 2020 ; 3(1) : 25.
Social interaction deficits are evident in many psychiatric conditions and specifically in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but hard to assess objectively. We present a digital tool to automatically quantify biomarkers of social interaction deficits : the simulated interaction task (SIT), which entails a standardized 7-min simulated dialog via video and the automated analysis of facial expressions, gaze behavior, and voice characteristics. In a study with 37 adults with ASD without intellectual disability and 43 healthy controls, we show the potential of the tool as a diagnostic instrument and for better description of ASD-associated social phenotypes. Using machine-learning tools, we detected individuals with ASD with an accuracy of 73%, sensitivity of 67%, and specificity of 79%, based on their facial expressions and vocal characteristics alone. Especially reduced social smiling and facial mimicry as well as a higher voice fundamental frequency and harmony-to-noise-ratio were characteristic for individuals with ASD. The time-effective and cost-effective computer-based analysis outperformed a majority vote and performed equal to clinical expert ratings.
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3. Ducroizet A. View of ASD Diagnosis and Prognosis. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2021.
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4. Harris HA, Micali N, Moll HA, van Berckelaer-Onnes I, Hillegers M, Jansen PW. The role of food selectivity in the association between child autistic traits and constipation. The International journal of eating disorders. 2021.
OBJECTIVE : This study examines the association between child autistic traits and constipation symptoms, and explores whether this association is mediated by food selectivity. METHOD : The sample included participants (N = 2,818) from the population-based birth cohort, Generation R (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Parents reported their child’s autistic traits at 6 years (using the Social Responsiveness Scale), food selectivity at 10 years (using the Stanford Feeding Questionnaire) and the frequency and severity of constipation symptoms they experienced at 10 years (using the ROME III functional constipation diagnostic criteria). Mediation analyses tested mediation through food selectivity in the association of autistic traits and the number of constipation symptoms, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS : There was a positive association between parent-reported child autistic traits and constipation symptoms (r = 0.08, p < .001). We identified a significant indirect effect of autistic traits on constipation symptoms through food selectivity (β = 0.008, 95% Confidence Interval : 0.002, 0.014). DISCUSSION : This study provides empirical support for the mediating role of food selectivity in the association between autistic traits and constipation. Behavioral interventions aimed to target food selectivity and support families of children with autistic traits may bolster conventional medical and nutritional treatments to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation.
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5. Hull L, Levy L, Lai MC, Petrides KV, Baron-Cohen S, Allison C, Smith P, Mandy W. Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults ?. Mol Autism. 2021 ; 12(1) : 13.
BACKGROUND : There is inconsistent evidence for a clear pattern of association between ‘camouflaging’ (strategies used to mask and/or compensate for autism characteristics during social interactions) and mental health. METHODS : This study explored the relationship between self-reported camouflaging and generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety in a large sample of autistic adults and, for the first time, explored the moderating effect of gender, in an online survey. RESULTS : Overall, camouflaging was associated with greater symptoms of generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety, although only to a small extent beyond the contribution of autistic traits and age. Camouflaging more strongly predicted generalised and social anxiety than depression. No interaction between camouflaging and gender was found. LIMITATIONS : These results cannot be generalised to autistic people with intellectual disability, or autistic children and young people. The sample did not include sufficient numbers of non-binary people to run separate analyses ; therefore, it is possible that camouflaging impacts mental health differently in this population. CONCLUSIONS : The findings suggest that camouflaging is a risk factor for mental health problems in autistic adults without intellectual disability, regardless of gender. We also identified levels of camouflaging at which risk of mental health problems is highest, suggesting clinicians should be particularly aware of mental health problems in those who score at or above these levels.
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6. Jonak CR, Sandhu MS, Assad SA, Barbosa JA, Makhija M, Binder DK. The PDE10A Inhibitor TAK-063 Reverses Sound-Evoked EEG Abnormalities in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics. 2021.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by increased anxiety, repetitive behaviors, social communication deficits, delayed language development, and abnormal sensory processing. Recently, we have identified electroencephalographic (EEG) biomarkers that are conserved between the mouse model of FXS (Fmr1 KO mice) and humans with FXS. In this study, we test a specific candidate mechanism for engagement of multielectrode array (MEA) EEG biomarkers in the FXS mouse model. We administered TAK-063, a potent, selective, and orally active phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitor, to Fmr1 KO mice, and examined its effects on MEA EEG biomarkers. We demonstrate significant dose-related amelioration of inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC) to temporally modulated auditory stimuli by TAK-063 in Fmr1 KO mice. Our data suggest that TAK-063 improves cortical auditory stimulus processing in Fmr1 KO mice, without significantly depressing baseline EEG power or causing any noticeable sedation or behavioral side effects. Thus, the PDE10A inhibitor TAK-063 has salutary effects on normalizing EEG biomarkers in a mouse model of FXS and should be pursued in further translational treatment development.
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7. Jones J, Blinkhorn A, McQueen M, Hewett L, Mills-Rogers MJ, Hall L, Althagafi L, Hudson C, Gierc M, Wright K, Goettl H, Keogh-Lim D, Rischke-Peddle A, Ayub M. The adaptation and feasibility of dialectical behaviour therapy for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and transdiagnoses : A pilot community-based randomized controlled trial. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2021.
INTRODUCTION : Preliminary evidence suggests dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) may be beneficial for persons with intellectual disabilities. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the feasibility of adapted DBT for adults with intellectual disabilities and co-morbid psychiatric disorders in the community. METHODS : An adapted DBT programme (aDBT-ID) was delivered to adults with mild-to-moderate intellectual disability (n = 20) and their caregivers (n = 20). A single-blind, mixed-methods design was employed with treatment (n = 10) and control (n = 10). In addition to feasibility, pre-post-measures of emotional regulation, anger and mental health were taken from clients and caregivers. RESULTS : Results suggest it was feasible and beneficial to deliver adapted DBT in the community. Qualitative findings found both participants and caregivers were satisfied with the treatment delivery. No differences between conditions were found. CONCLUSION : This pilot study highlights the feasibility of adapted DBT for individuals with intellectual disabilities and the practicalities of delivering community-based inclusive research.
