1. Cary E, Arnold E. Early intervention in autism: where do we go from here?. Evid Based Nurs. 2025; 28(3): 95.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

2. Chan KKS, Tsui JKC. Effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention in reducing stigma stress among parents of autistic children: A randomized controlled trial. Res Dev Disabil. 2025; 164: 105072.

BACKGROUND: Despite the adverse psychological effects of stigma stress on parents of autistic children, no evidence-based intervention currently exists to address this issue. While targeted interventions for stigma stress are lacking, evidence from broader literature suggests that mindfulness can be an effective skill for coping with stigma. This study developed, implemented, and evaluated a new Mindfulness-Based Stigma Stress Reduction (MBSSR) program for parents of autistic children in Hong Kong. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to either the MBSSR intervention group (n = 25) or a waitlist control group (n = 26). Both groups completed questionnaire measures at baseline (T1), immediately after the intervention (T2), and one month post-intervention (T3). RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed greater reductions in stigma stress and greater improvements in psychological well-being, positive caregiving experiences (including increased perceptions of caregiving gain and reduced perceptions of caregiving burden), mindful parenting, and decreased autistic symptoms in their children. The effect sizes of these changes ranged from modest to large, with all benefits being statistically significant at the 4-week follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the MBSSR program effectively supports parents in coping with stigma and yields a wide range of benefits, simultaneously improving their mental health, caregiving perceptions, interpersonal mindfulness in parenting, and child clinical outcomes. Given these benefits, practitioners should consider integrating mindfulness training-such as the MBSSR program-into support services for families of autistic children.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

3. Curtiss SL, Tillman S, Subih M, Myers K. A mixed-methods study of autistic and non-autistic community member participation in autism research. Autism. 2025: 13623613251348543.

Participatory research is one pathway for advancing the agenda of autistic advocates; however, little is known about the attitudes and values of autism researchers toward participatory research. This is a participatory research mixed-methods study of 215 survey respondents and 21 interviewees, all corresponding authors of published autism research papers. Our aim was to identify attitudes and practices about participatory research with autistic and non-autistic community partners. We found relatively low rates of various participatory strategies, moderate rates of barriers to participatory research, and moderate endorsement of the importance of participatory research. The interviews elucidated participatory research’s best practices, complexity of barriers, and transformative power to positively impact autism research. Interviewees discussed the connection between participatory research and decisions about language. The survey responses indicated that 30% of autism researchers never used identity-first language. An emergent theme from the interviews explored the unique contribution of insider research-research in which an autistic person brings their expertise derived from lived experience and formal research training. This research provides descriptions of the current state of participatory autism research and guidance for its utilization.Lay AbstractParticipatory research is a way for autistic advocates, other community advocates, and researchers to work together for the benefit of the autistic community. Participatory research is when community members are partners throughout the research process, for example, selecting research questions, determining research methods, and interpreting results. However, little is known about autism researchers’ attitudes and values about participatory research. This research describes the participatory research strategies autism researchers use, researchers’ attitudes toward participatory research, and researchers’ insights into best practices in participatory research. We looked at participatory autism research involving autistic people and non-autistic people who are connected to the autistic community, such as parents and teachers of autistic people. We surveyed 215 autism researchers to find out how much autism research is participatory, how important autism researchers think participatory research is, and what barriers get in the way of doing participatory autism research. On average, researchers who responded to the survey reported relatively low rates of participatory research, medium rates of barriers to participatory research, and medium agreement on the value of participatory research. The survey also asked what language they use regarding autism; a significant proportion of researchers in the study reported never using identity-first language (e.g., autistic person, as opposed to person-first language; person with autism). We also interviewed 21 of the researchers who responded to the survey. The interviews covered topics such as possible strategies to increase participatory research, examples of barriers to participatory research, and the interviewees’ views on the importance of participatory research. Interviewees also discussed the connection between participatory research and decisions about language regarding autism. Several interviewees talked about the unique contributions of autistic academics, who have both lived experience as autistic people and formal research training.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

4. De Sales-Millán A, Guillén-López S, López-Mejía L, Reyes-Ferreira P, González-Cervantes RM, Velázquez Aragón JA. Nutrient imbalance and obesity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Nutr Hosp. 2025; 43(3): 420-7.

Introduction: children with ASD have a higher percentage of obesity compared to neurotypical children of the same age. Diet problems can lead to excesses or deficiencies in the consumption of macro and micronutrients. Objectives: to rigorously and serially evaluate the anthropometric and dietary data of ASD patients of preschool and school age over a period of 6 months. Methods: a longitudinal study that included 34 children diagnosed with ASD of both sexes, from 4 to 11 years of age, recruited at convenience in the Mental Health Service of the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City. The variables considered were: age, body mass index with Z-score and intake of macro and micronutrients. Results: at the end of the follow-up, 25 of 34 patients concluded the study and their nutritional status showed changes that did not have statistical significance, where 4 % were underweight, 56 % were normal weight, 12 % were overweight and 28 % were obese. Macronutrients, such as energy and fiber, and micronutrients, such as zinc, vitamin D, omega-3 and omega-6, and tryptophan, showed imbalances in consumption by patients without statistical significant changes in time. Conclusions: there is an imbalance in the consumption of macro and micronutrients in children with ASD and the prevalence of obesity is higher compared to other studies.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

5. Drapalik KN, Magin DJ, Rinaldi ML, Christodulu KV. Camouflaging and identity development among autistic female and gender-diverse youth: A qualitative exploration. Autism. 2025: 13623613251345855.

Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental period for autistic youth. Autistic adolescents often use camouflaging to combat social challenges, perceived differences, and stigmatization. Although adolescence is an integral period for identity development, integration of these topics remains understudied in current literature. Evidence of elevated camouflaging rates among autistic females and gender-diverse adults underscores the need to examine the developmental trajectory of these topics. The present study qualitatively explored first-person perspectives on camouflaging and identity formation among autistic female and gender-diverse youth. Ten autistic adolescents (female: n = 7; gender diverse: n = 3) and their caregivers were enrolled in the present study. Youths completed a semi-structured interview or focus group discussion. Data were qualitatively analyzed and produced several prominent themes in three domains of investigation: (1) the nuts and bolts of camouflaging, (2) the aftermath of camouflaging, and (3) understanding being autistic. Identified themes and subthemes are discussed. Results demonstrated that autistic youth employ complex camouflaging strategies, motivated and reinforced by their experiences within society, that hold damaging consequences for their self-understanding and well-being. These findings reinforce the harmful implications of camouflaging on youths’ positive identity development, mental health, and well-being. Implications and future directions are discussed.Lay AbstractAdolescence is a challenging time for autistic youth. Many autistic adolescents change their behavior in social situations to adapt or cope with social challenges, feeling different, and/or stigma. We conducted in-depth discussions with autistic adolescents who identify as female or gender-diverse to understand how changing their behavior in social situations impacts their identity, or self-understanding. Ten autistic adolescents and their caregivers were included in the study. Discussions were analyzed to understand how and why youths change their social behavior and the impact it has on their self-understanding. Participants described using many complex strategies to change their social behavior that are influenced by negative views our society has about people’s differences. The strategies often harmed participants’ self-understanding and negatively affected their overall well-being. The results are important for understanding how to support autistic adolescents’ self-understanding, mental health, and well-being.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

6. Fang Z, Zhou Y, Chen K, Wang J, Liu X, Jia P. Gut microbiota and autism spectrum disorder: advances in dietary intervention strategies based on the microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanism. Front Neurosci. 2025; 19: 1587818.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is primarily characterized by deficits in social interaction, impaired communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of ASD has been steadily increasing, establishing it as one of the leading causes of disability among children worldwide. Although the precise pathogenesis of ASD remains unclear, factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, immune dysregulation, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities are collectively believed to contribute to its onset. In recent years, the gut microbiota has emerged as a promising area of research in neurobiology, particularly in relation to advances in understanding the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) mechanism. Studies have shown that children with ASD exhibit significant dysbiosis in their gut microbiota, which may affect brain function via the MGBA, ultimately leading to abnormal behaviors and impaired emotional regulation. This review summarizes the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of ASD, examining how alterations in gut permeability, dysregulated microbial metabolites, and immune dysfunction may influence ASD symptomatology. In particular, the role of the MGBA in modulating immune-inflammatory responses, neurodevelopment, and behavioral regulation has become a focal point of ASD research. Building on this foundation, the review further summarizes dietary intervention strategies grounded in the MGBA theory, emphasizing their potential to restore gut microbial composition, modulate immune responses, and enhance metabolic function, thereby offering novel therapeutic perspectives for ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

7. Gibbs KMP, Hammersmith KJ, Stephenson KG, Peng J, Casamassimo PS, Butter EM, Fenning RM, Steinberg-Epstein RB. Oral Health Fatalism and Oral Health Self-Efficacy in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Using Data From a Longitudinal Interventional Study. Pediatr Dent. 2025; 47(3): 151-6.

Purpose: To evaluate changes over time in oral health fatalism (OHF) and oral health self-efficacy (OHSE) in the context of an intervention, in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: This secondary analysis used questionnaire data from a parent study of 118 Medicaid-eligible families of children with ASD enrolled in a longitudinal, multi-site randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a novel parent training (PT) intervention relative to psychoeducational toolkit for improving home oral hygiene and dental health. OHF and OHSE belief endorsements were evaluated at baseline, three months, and six months. Results: At baseline, 25 percent of caregivers disagreed with the OHF-endorsing statement « Most children eventually develop dental cavities, » and 11 percent did not report confidence with OHSE statements. At six months, 34 percent did not endorse OHF and five percent did not report confidence with OHSE. Using the generalized linear mixed model, the percent change from baseline to six months in caregivers disagreeing with OHF and endorsing OHSE was significant (P<0.05). A repeated mea- sures analysis of variance test determined the relationship between the effects of treatment and time on OHF and OHSE. No difference was found in OHF and OHSE beliefs over time between groups (P>0.05); however, a significant effect was found on OHF change over time within subjects (P<0.05). Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in endorsement of OHF or OHSE between groups at six months. However, within all subjects, OHF beliefs became less endorsed and OHSE confidence improved over time.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

8. Kuwahara Y, Yonezawa M, Miya H, Moroto M, Iehara T. Behavioral problems in adolescents and young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. Pediatr Int. 2025; 67(1): e70115.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in children has led to concerns about waiting times for medical evaluation. Thus, Fukuchiyama City Hospital jointly established an ambulatory clinic for children with developmental disorders with the city government in 2010. This study aims to investigate behavioral challenges among patients aged 15 years and older attending the developmental outpatient clinic, particularly those diagnosed with ASD, to highlight challenges related to medical and social treatments. METHODS: The study examined patients aged 15 years and older diagnosed with NDD who visited the outpatient clinic for developmental disorders at Fukuchiyama City Hospital from January to December 2023. It collected data on demographics, duration of outpatient visits, diagnoses, current communication skills, and behavioral problems from medical records. RESULTS: Out of 68 patients, 45 were diagnosed with ASD. Communication difficulties were prevalent, with 31.1% lacking significant verbal communication skills. Behavioral problems included behavioral deviance, inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, harmful behavior toward others, and self-injury. Low levels of developmental quotient (DQ) were associated with maladaptive behaviors, but harmful behaviors were independent of IQ/DQ. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the behavioral problems in adolescents and young adult patients with ASD attending developmental clinics. Early and appropriate interventions, such as applied behavior analysis, are critical for addressing these challenging behaviors, especially harmful ones. The support of family and caregivers based on behavior analysis is necessary for enhancing the outcomes and quality of life of individuals with NDD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

9. Newell V, Richards C, Cassidy S. ‘Picking the best of a bad bunch’: Exploring stakeholder perspectives of self-harm assessment tools for autistic adults. Autism. 2025: 13623613251348555.

Autistic people are at greater risk of self-harm than non-autistic people, yet no tools exist specifically for assessing self-harm in this population. We therefore conducted two focus groups with autistic adults (n = 5) and professionals (n = 4) to examine their perspectives on three existing self-harm assessment tools (Non-Suicidal Self-Injury – Assessment Tool, Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury and Questionnaire for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury). Using a reflexive thematic analysis, we found one overarching theme – ‘picking the best of a bad bunch’ – where participants acknowledged some strengths of the tools, but multiple limitations outweighed these. Subthemes included cognitive considerations (e.g. complexity, length, working memory demands, introspection), missing elements (e.g. broader self-harm behaviours, functions, context, support) and challenges in conceptualising self-harm, particularly around intentionality and stimming. Participants also stressed the importance of addressing stigma, considering co-occurring conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disabilities and upholding a duty of care. Overall, findings show that existing self-harm assessment tools are not appropriate or acceptable for autistic adults who self-harm, indicating a clear need for a new self-harm assessment tool developed with and for autistic people.Lay abstractThe perspectives of autistic adults and professionals on existing self-harm assessment toolsSelf-harm is defined as when someone intentionally hurts or poisons themselves, regardless of the reason. This can include suicide attempts as well as behaviours such as cutting, hitting or burning as a way to express or manage difficult feelings. Concerningly, autistic people are more likely to self-harm than non-autistic people, but there are currently no tools specifically designed to assess self-harm in this group. This makes it harder for researchers and service providers to identify autistic people who self-harm and offer the right support or treatment. Previous studies have suggested that three existing self-harm assessment tools could be adapted for autistic people, but it is unclear what autistic adults and professionals think about these tools. We conducted two focus groups: one with autistic adults who have self-harmed and another with professionals who work with autistic people who self-harm. Both groups felt that none of the three tools were suitable for autistic people. They explained that some questions might be harder for autistic people to answer, such as those requiring them to remember specific details or identify their emotions. They also noted the tools missed out on important aspects of the autistic experience, like managing sensory and social overload. Both groups highlighted that self-harm is complex and discussed the overlap with behaviours such as stimming (e.g. repetitive movements or sounds). They emphasised the importance of a supportive approach to self-harm that considers the role of co-occurring conditions, like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disabilities, and ensures researchers and professionals prioritise participant safety. These findings suggest that instead of adapting existing tools, a new one should be developed specifically with and for autistic people. A tailored tool could help identify self-harm earlier and lead to better support for autistic adults.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

10. O’Connor E, Treyvaud K, Green CC, Green J, Iacono T, Maybery M, Segal L, Slonims V, Varcin KJ, Wan MW, Whitehouse A, Hudry K. Caregiver broader autism phenotype does not moderate the effect of early caregiver-mediated support on infant language outcomes. Infant Behav Dev. 2025; 80: 102093.

Caregiver-mediated supports in general have shown mixed evidence for enhancing language outcomes in infants at higher likelihood of autism. While caregivers play a substantial role in caregiver-mediated supports, little is known about whether caregivers’ own subclinical autistic features – known as broader autism phenotype (BAP) – may moderate infant language outcomes. In secondary analysis of trial data, we examined whether caregiver BAP moderated the effectiveness of the iBASIS caregiver-mediated support program (received when infants were mean aged 12-18 months) for infant language outcomes (measured on parent-reported and direct assessment of receptive and expressive language). While lower caregiver BAP was linked to increased parent-reported infant vocabulary growth in general terms, it did not actually moderate the effect of the caregiver-mediated support program on those infant language outcomes. In relative terms therefore, infants of caregivers with both higher and lower BAP benefited equally from this support on parent-report compared to the comparison group. Caregiver BAP is associated with slower vocabulary growth in infants, but caregivers with autistic features can be recommended for this caregiver-mediated video-feedback based program, as their infants benefitted from such support.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

11. Reis SM, Renzulli SJ. Research-Based Strength-Based Teaching and Support Strategies for Twice-Exceptional High School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behav Sci (Basel). 2025; 15(6).

In the last five years, several scholars have collaborated in an integrated research program focused on students identified with both academic talents and autism spectrum disorder (2eASD) with support from a Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education grant. Several different empirical studies were initiated and completed during this period, investigating the ways in which some of these twice-exceptional students have been able to be successful in secondary school and highly competitive colleges. In this article, we summarize findings from several of these studies, synthesizing implications and recommendations with a goal of offering research-based practices, especially related to healthy social and emotional development and strong academic achievement in students identified as 2eASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

12. Robledo KP, Rieger I, Finlayson S, Tarnow-Mordi W, Martin AJ. Balancing precision and affordability in assessing infant development in large-scale mortality trials: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025; 110(4): 409-14.

OBJECTIVE: Large-scale mortality trials require reliable secondary assessments of impairment. We compared the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3), a screening tool self-administered by parents, in classifying impairment using the ‘gold standard’ Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Bayley-III), a diagnostic tool administered by trained assessors. DESIGN: Analysis of 405 children around 2 years corrected age from the Australian Placental Transfusion Study, a trial conducted over 8 years. SETTING: Secondary analysis of international, open-label, multicentre randomised trial. PATIENTS: Children born <30 weeks gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Immediate (<10 s) versus delayed (60 s+) cord clamping. MAIN OUTCOMES: ASQ-3 and Bayley-III assessments around 2 years corrected age. Impairment (or developmental delay) was defined as <2 SD below the mean (<70) for Bayley-III domains. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating curve for ASQ-3 domains predicting delay was 0.75-0.99. Sensitivity for predicting delay was 57%-100%, while specificity was 88%-90%.We modelled the cost and sample size using a less expensive, though less precise, screening assessment for impairment compared with a more costly diagnostic assessment. For detecting a 25% reduction in the relative risk of delay, using ASQ-3 rather than Bayley-III could require double the sample size (15 000 to 30 000), but outcome assessment cost savings would be US$13M (EUR$12M). However, assessment cost savings may be outweighed by upscaling. CONCLUSIONS: When measuring developmental outcomes in a large-scale clinical trial, using a more precise diagnostic tool may be financially prohibitive, so increasing the sample size and using a less precise but appropriately calibrated tool may be more affordable. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12610000633088.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

13. Singh K, Shukla S, Ghosh T, Das AK, Kumar A. Tyrosine Peptides Alleviates Multifaceted Toxicity Linked to Expanded CGG Repeats in Fragile X‑Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2025; 8(6): 1536-55.

Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)/Fragile X-associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (FXPOI) are conditions caused by an elevated level of CGG repeats in the 5′ untranslated region (5′-UTR) of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. These trinucleotide extended RNA repeats [r-(CGG)(exp)] produce toxic homopolymeric proteins in neuronal cells via repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation or formation of RNA foci. A promising therapeutic approach for such conditions involves identifying potent modulators, particularly those with high binding affinity and selectivity toward these expanded RNA repeats. We investigated the therapeutic potential of homoaromatic tyrosine peptides (2Y, 3Y, and 4Y) toward CGG repeat RNA by employing biophysical and cell model-based studies. Furthermore, administering the peptides from the early developmental stages in the Drosophila model of FXTAS also mitigated the disease symptoms. Results revealed that the peptides interact with r-(CGG)(exp) in a thermodynamically advantageous manner and are highly selective for the GG-rich RNA motif. All three peptides correct alternative splicing flaws linked to FXTAS, reduce the synthesis and buildup of the FMR1polyG protein inclusion, and rapidly suppress cell cytotoxicity in both the cellular and Drosophila models. These findings show that homo aromatic tyrosine-based peptides targeting treacherous repeat RNAs are potential therapeutic tools for treating FXTAS/FXPOI.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

14. Tikochinsky S, Ben-Itzchak E, Zukerman G. Distinct Empathy Profiles in Autism and Social Anxiety: A Comparative Study. Autism Res. 2025.

This study examined cognitive and affective empathy in individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC), social anxiety (SA), and those without these conditions. A total of 105 university students (mean age = 24.2 years) were divided into three groups: ASC (n = 34), SA (n = 38), and controls (n = 33). Participants completed the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to assess cognitive (fantasy, perspective taking) and affective (personal distress, empathic concern) empathy. State cognitive empathy was measured using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (RMET). Results showed that the ASC group had lower empathic concern than the SA and control groups and lower perspective taking than controls. Both ASC and SA groups reported higher personal distress than controls. A novel personal distress-to-empathic concern ratio (PD/EC) effectively differentiated ASC from SA, with a proposed cutoff of 0.83, demonstrating good sensitivity and moderate specificity. RMET scores were within the norm for all groups, with no significant differences. These findings highlight distinct empathy profiles in autism and social anxiety and introduce a new metric for differentiation, with potential clinical and research applications in empathy assessment.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

15. Verbesselt J, Breckpot J, Zink I, Swillen A. Developmental milestones and cognitive trajectories in school-aged children with 16p11.2 deletion. J Neurodev Disord. 2025; 17(1): 33.

BACKGROUND: 16p11.2 deletion syndrome (16p11.2DS) is a recurrent CNV that occurs de novo in approximately 70% of cases and confers risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The current study focusses on developmental milestones, cognitive profiles and longitudinal cognitive trajectories. METHODS: In-person assessments, digital medical records and parental interviews on developmental history of 24 children (5-16 years) with a confirmed BP4-BP5 16p11.2DS were reviewed and analysed for developmental milestones (motor, language, continence). Standardised intelligence tests were administered in all children, and longitudinal IQ-data were available for a subgroup (79%, 19/24). RESULTS: Motor, language, and continence milestones were delayed. Average IQ was in the borderline range (IQ 71) with 46% (11/24) having borderline IQ (IQ 70-84). Both intra- and interindividual variability were found across the five cognitive domains with significant discrepancies between verbal and non-verbal skills in 55% (11/20). Longitudinal IQ-data indicate that school-aged children with 16p11.2DS perform statistically significantly lower at the second time point (p < 0.001) with 58% showing a growing into deficit trajectory. CONCLUSION: Delayed motor, language and continence milestones are common in 16p11.2DS carriers. School-aged children with 16p11.2DS show increasing cognitive impairments over time, pointing to the need for early diagnosis, regular cognitive follow-up and individualised intervention. The high prevalence of disharmonic IQ-profiles highlights the importance of expanding the focus beyond full-scale IQ (FSIQ) outcomes. Future studies in larger cohorts including carrier relatives are needed to gain more insight into the penetrance and phenotypic variability of 16p11.2DS.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

16. Weiner L, Bemmouna D. ‘I live with my emotions much better now’: A qualitative study of autistic adults’ subjective experience of dialectical behaviour therapy. Autism. 2025: 13623613251348271.

Many Autistic adults without intellectual disability experience emotion dysregulation, which is associated with non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour. Dialectical behaviour therapy has been shown to be feasible, acceptable and potentially effective is supporting Autistic adults without intellectual disability with improved emotion regulation. Since dialectical behaviour therapy research is in its early stages in the field of autism, it is crucial to better understand the subjective experience of Autistic adults who received dialectical behaviour therapy to improve its pertinence for this population. Twenty-two Autistic adults presenting with emotion dysregulation with non-suicidal self-injury and/or suicidal behaviour/ideation who received a comprehensive dialectical behaviour therapy were interviewed using a semi-structured approach. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Three superordinate themes were identified from the thematic analysis: (1) dialectical behaviour therapy is highly useful, structured and demanding; (2) dialectical behaviour therapy leads to changes in emotion labelling, emotion regulation and relationships; and (3) self-acceptance and feeling empowered to handle life’s challenges. Ideas to foster the pertinence of dialectical behaviour therapy for Autistic adults were also collected. Our findings indicate that dialectical behaviour therapy was experienced as highly helpful despite the effort it requires. Participants reported changes in emotion experience, social relationships, self-concept and quality of life, probably due to increased emotion awareness, emotion control and self-regulation. Suggestions include the increased use of modelling to foster skills acquisition.Lay AbstractMany Autistic adults struggle with their emotion regulation. Dialectical behaviour therapy is the main therapy available to teach emotion regulation skills to people with this kind of struggle. Prior work has shown that dialectical behaviour therapy might be effective for Autistic people. Yet interest in dialectical behaviour therapy is new in the field of autism, so it is important to understand whether and how the therapy may help Autistic adults better live with their emotions. This article uses interviews conducted with 22 Autistic people following dialectical behaviour therapy. We outline several factors that might make dialectical behaviour therapy effective for Autistic people. For instance, dialectical behaviour therapy seems to help Autistic people better label and understand their emotions, but also accept and respect themselves. Nevertheless, dialectical behaviour therapy is demanding and some changes are suggested to improve the effects of dialectical behaviour therapy, such as providing a less intensive format to diminish fatigue. Our article provides evidence for the usefulness of dialectical behaviour therapy to help Autistic adults better deal with their emotions and improve their quality of life. Building from the experience of Autistic people, our study highlights the perceived benefits of dialectical behaviour therapy and the potential changes (e.g. reduction of text) to improve the utility of dialectical behaviour therapy for Autistic adults.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

17. Wu K, Tang A, Zhang X, Zhou S, Wu N, Tao J, Chen Y, Yang G, Zhou H, You M. Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025; 302: 118519.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants found in various consumer products, such as drinking water, infant formula, and food, as well as in human biospecimens, including blood, urine, breastmilk, and cerebrospinal fluid. Previous evidence indicates that PFAS exposure poses significant neurotoxic risks, owing to their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and bioaccumulate in neural tissue. The developing brains of fetuses and infants are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of environmental pollutants because of their incomplete barrier and immune system development. This narrative review synthesizes current epidemiological and experimental evidence on the neurodevelopmental effects of PFAS exposure, with a primary focus on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The available data, from both cross-sectional and prospective cohort surveys, indicate a potential link between PFAS exposure and the development of ADHD or ASD. Additionally, experimental studies demonstrate that PFAS exposure disrupts neurotransmitter regulation, induces oxidative stress and chronic neuroinflammation, and alters gut microbiota, all of which reflect key pathological features observed in both clinical and preclinical models of ADHD and ASD. The present narrative review also discusses current challenges and research directions aimed at elucidating the causal links between PFAS insults and the onset of ADHD or ASD. Notably, this review highlights the need for molecular epidemiological approaches and realistic exposure models in animal research to deepen our understanding of causal associations.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)