1. Abolkheirian S, Sadeghi R, Shojaeizadeh D. What do parents of children with autism spectrum disorder think about their quality of life? A qualitative study. J Educ Health Promot;2022;11:169.

BACKGROUND: Living with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can affect different aspects of parents’ physical and mental health and quality of life. This study aimed to identify parents’ perceptions of their quality of life and factors influencing such perceptions and investigate how they cope with difficulties in their daily lives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted using a qualitative research design to gain insight into how children with ASD may influence their parents’ quality of life. A total of 31 parents and school counselors were selected by the snowball sampling method in autism schools in Tehran in the academic year 2018-2019. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Each interview was held based on a preprepared guideline by the researchers. In-depth questions were also asked as needed. Finally, the data were analyzed using the content analysis approach. RESULTS: The participants reported a variety of difficulties and crises to cope with in their daily lives. The factors reported to decrease the quality of life were categorized into six main themes and 20 subthemes. The main themes included « family interactions, » « parenting, » « daily living, » « health, » « financial issues, » and « community-related. » CONCLUSIONS: Due to the diversity and multilevel factors affecting the quality of life of parents having children with ASD, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive approach with the participation of all stakeholders in the development, design, and implementation of future interventions.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

2. Alamoudi MU, Hosie S, Shindler AE, Wood JL, Franks AE, Hill-Yardin EL. Comparing the Gut Microbiome in Autism and Preclinical Models: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol;2022;12:905841.

Many individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and show microbial dysbiosis. Variation in gut microbial populations is associated with increased risk for GI symptoms such as chronic constipation and diarrhoea, which decrease quality of life. Several preclinical models of autism also demonstrate microbial dysbiosis. Given that much pre-clinical research is conducted in mouse models, it is important to understand the similarities and differences between the gut microbiome in humans and these models in the context of autism. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using PubMed, ProQuest and Scopus databases to compare microbiome profiles of patients with autism and transgenic (NL3(R451C), Shank3 KO, 15q dup), phenotype-first (BTBR) and environmental (Poly I:C, Maternal Inflammation Activation (MIA), valproate) mouse models of autism. Overall, we report changes in fecal microbial communities relevant to ASD based on both clinical and preclinical studies. Here, we identify an overlapping cluster of genera that are modified in both fecal samples from individuals with ASD and mouse models of autism. Specifically, we describe an increased abundance of Bilophila, Clostridium, Dorea and Lactobacillus and a decrease in Blautia genera in both humans and rodents relevant to this disorder. Studies in both humans and mice highlighted multidirectional changes in abundance (i.e. in some cases increased abundance whereas other reports showed decreases) for several genera including Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Parabacteroides and Prevotella, suggesting that these genera may be susceptible to modification in autism. Identification of these microbial profiles may assist in characterising underlying biological mechanisms involving host-microbe interactions and provide future therapeutic targets for improving gut health in autism.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

3. Carroll BT, Scott SL, Theibert HPM, Slavnic B, Vellanki KD. Krankheitsreste: The residual signs of catatonia. A case series. Ann Clin Psychiatry;2022 (Aug);34(3):192-196.

BACKGROUND: Catatonic signs were first described by 19th- and 20th-century researchers. An important concept known as « Krankheitsreste, » or the residual signs of catatonia, was described by Kraepelin in 1896. Modern researchers describe patients who demonstrate « partial response to the treatment of catatonia with residual signs. » Kraepelin observed that these signs occurred between catatonic episodes as part of the natural course of illness. Modern psychiatrists see residual signs after intervention or treatment. The determination of residual signs of catatonia is necessary to evaluate the most effective treatment approach to the patient. METHODS: In this case series, we describe 3 patients whose catatonia improved with treatment, but each exhibited continued residual signs of the syndrome. Appropriate consent was obtained from the patients and we identified the varying levels of catatonic signs using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) and the KANNER scale. RESULTS: Scores on both the BFCRS and KANNER scale decreased on followup in all 3 patients, with varying levels of success. The BFCRS score for the patient in Case 1 dropped 4 points upon follow-up, and their score on Part 2 of the KANNER scale decreased 12 points. The patient in Case 2 experienced a 5-point drop in their BFCRS score at follow-up and their score on Part 2 of the KANNER scale decreased 4 points. In Case 3, the patient’s BFCRS score dropped 10 points at follow-up and their score on Part 2 of the KANNER scale decreased 20 points. CONCLUSIONS: These 3 patients demonstrate Krankheitsreste, or « partial response to the treatment of catatonia with residual signs. » Each patient had a developmental disorder and 2 had autism spectrum disorder. They exhibited improved self-care and greater independence and required less restrictive living environments.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

4. Fabio RA, Giannatiempo S, Caprì T, Semino M. Repeated Motor Training on Attention Reaching Skills and Stereotypies in Rett Syndrome. Mov Disord Clin Pract;2022 (Jul);9(5):637-646.

BACKGROUND: Few studies investigated the effect of a structured and specific training for upper limb motor skills allowing complex movements such as reaching and grasping. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of motor training on attention, reaching skills, and stereotypies in patients with Rett syndrome (RTT). METHODS: Twenty-eight participants with RTT underwent cognitive and motor assessment to evaluate attention, reaching skills and stereotypies with an ABABABA design: before training (pre-test phase), after a month of training (post-test phase 1), after a month of the second training phase (post-test phase 2) and at 1 month after the third training phase (post-test phase 3). In all three B phases, participants received 30 minutes of motor training for 5 days a week over a 1-month period. RESULTS: Patients with RTT show long-term improvements in seconds of attention and reaching skills and decreases in the intensity of stereotypies. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that motor abilities of participants with RTT can be improved with repeated, individual, well-structured training.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

5. Feng Y, Chen F, Ma J, Wang L, Peng G. Production of Mandarin consonant aspiration and monophthongs in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clin Linguist Phon;2022 (Jul 18):1-20.

Impaired speech sound production adds difficulties to social communication in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), while a limited attempt has been made to figure out the speech sound production among Mandarin-speaking children with ASD. The current study conducted both auditory-perceptual scoring and quantitative acoustic analysis of speech sound imitated by 27 Mandarin-speaking children with ASD (3.33-7.00 years) and 30 chronological-age-matched typically developing (TD) children. Auditory-perceptual scoring showed significantly lower scores for aspirated/unaspirated consonants and monophthongs in children with ASD. Moreover, the correlation between the developmental age of language and production accuracy in children with ASD emphasised the importance of language assessment. The quantitative acoustic analysis further indicated that the ASD group produced a much shorter voice onset time for aspirated consonants and showed a reduced vowel space than the TD group. Early interventions focusing on these production patterns should be introduced to improve the speech sound production in Mandarin-speaking children with ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

6. Friedman C. Telehealth Service Delivery in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Int J Telerehabil;2022;14(1):e6478.

Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) waivers are the largest funding mechanism for Long-Term Supports and Services (LTSS) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States. This study’s aim was to examine telehealth service provision in Medicaid HCBS waivers for people with IDD. We analyzed fiscal year 2021 Medicaid HCBS waivers for people with IDD and emergency Appendix K authorizations (2020-2022) to examine permanent and temporary use of telehealth, respectively. The overwhelming majority of waivers (98.1%) temporarily permitted the use of telehealth service delivery for people with IDD. However, only a fraction (27.6%) permanently included the use of telehealth for people with IDD. The most prevalent types of services that permitted telehealth service delivery were: employment, day, and prevocational services; clinical and therapeutic services; and in-home and residential supports. When developing and implementing telehealth, it is important to consider the needs of people with IDD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

7. Gautam M, Sivananthan M, Cotes R, Beach S. Catatonia and Schizophrenia in a Young Man with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Clozapine-Induced Myocarditis. Harv Rev Psychiatry;2022 (Jul-Aug 01);30(4):261-269.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

8. Horvath PM, Piazza MK, Kavalali ET, Monteggia LM. MeCP2 loss-of-function dysregulates microRNAs regionally and disrupts excitatory/inhibitory synaptic transmission balance. Hippocampus;2022 (Aug);32(8):610-623.

Rett syndrome is a leading cause of intellectual disability in females primarily caused by loss of function mutations in the transcriptional regulator MeCP2. Loss of MeCP2 leads to a host of synaptic phenotypes that are believed to underlie Rett syndrome pathophysiology. Synaptic deficits vary by brain region upon MeCP2 loss, suggesting distinct molecular alterations leading to disparate synaptic outcomes. In this study, we examined the contribution of MeCP2’s newly described role in miRNA regulation to regional molecular and synaptic impairments. Two miRNAs, miR-101a and miR-203, were identified and confirmed as upregulated in MeCP2 KO mice in the hippocampus and cortex, respectively. miR-101a overexpression in hippocampal cultures led to opposing effects at excitatory and inhibitory synapses and in spontaneous and evoked neurotransmission, revealing the potential for a single miRNA to broadly regulate synapse function in the hippocampus. These results highlight the importance of regional alterations in miRNA expression and the specific impact on synaptic function with potential implications for Rett syndrome.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

9. Huang Y, Wong MK, Lam WY, Cheng CH, So WC. What affects gestural learning in children with and without Autism? The role of prior knowledge and imitation. Res Dev Disabil;2022 (Jul 19);129:104305.

The present study examined whether prior knowledge to the learning target and imitation during learning affected learning outcomes in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, N = 22) compared to their typically developing (TD, N = 15) peers. Children’s gestural skills in recognizing and producing the target gestures before and after the training, as well as their imitative behavior during the training were coded. Results showed that consistent prior knowledge benefited gestural learning in both groups. Besides, only children with ASD were hindered by inconsistent prior knowledge. Notably, the effect of imitation was not significant in the ASD group. In conclusion, the learning process in children with ASD may differ from those with typical development, suggesting special-designed interventions are required.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

10. Jenabi E, Bashirian S, Salehi AM, Khazaei S. Not breastfeeding and risk of autism spectrum disorders among children: a meta-analysis. Clin Exp Pediatr;2022 (Jul 19)

To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of the association of not breastfeeding and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on observational studies. Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were systematically searched until December 2021. Heterogeneity was determined using the chi-square test and its quantity was measured using the I2 statistic. The Begg’s line regression test was used to assess publication bias. A random-effects model was used to analyze the data. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. The total study population included 3,270 individuals. According to the random-effects model, the estimated odds ratio of the risk of ASD associated with not breastfeeding was 1.81 (95% confidence interval, 1.35-2.27; I2=0.0%). The results of the included studies were homogeneous. Our findings showed that not breastfeeding is a risk factor for ASD. These results suggest the importance of breastfeeding in decreasing the risk of ASD in children.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

11. Kuo SS, van der Merwe C, Fu JM, Carey CE, Talkowski ME, Bishop SL, Robinson EB. Developmental Variability in Autism Across 17 000 Autistic Individuals and 4000 Siblings Without an Autism Diagnosis: Comparisons by Cohort, Intellectual Disability, Genetic Etiology, and Age at Diagnosis. JAMA Pediatr;2022 (Jul 18)

IMPORTANCE: Presence of developmental delays in autism is well established, yet few studies have characterized variability in developmental milestone attainment in this population. OBJECTIVE: To characterize variability in the age at which autistic individuals attain key developmental milestones based on co-occurring intellectual disability (ID), presence of a rare disruptive genetic variant associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), age at autism diagnosis, and research cohort membership. DESIGN: The study team harmonized data from 4 cross-sectional autism cohorts: the Autism Genetics Research Exchange (n = 3284; 1997-2015), The Autism Simplex Collection (n = 694; 2008-2011), the Simons Simplex Collection (n = 2753; 2008-2011), and the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (n = 10 367; 2016-present). The last sample further included 4145 siblings without an autism diagnosis or ID. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 21 243 autistic individuals or their siblings without an autism diagnosis aged 4 to 17 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Parents reported ages at which participants attained key milestones including smiling, sitting upright, crawling, walking, spoon-feeding self, speaking words, speaking phrases, and acquiring bladder and bowel control. A total of 5295 autistic individuals, and their biological parents, were genetically characterized to identify de novo variants in NDD-associated genes. The study team conducted time-to-event analyses to estimate and compare percentiles in time with milestone attainment across autistic individuals, subgroups of autistic individuals, and the sibling sample. RESULTS: Seventeen thousand ninety-eight autistic individuals (mean age, 9.15 years; 80.8% male) compared with 4145 siblings without autism or ID (mean age, 10.2 years; 50.2% female) showed delays in milestone attainment, with median (IQR) delays ranging from 0.7 (0.3-1.6) to 19.7 (11.4-32.2) months. More severe and more variable delays in autism were associated with the presence of co-occurring ID, carrying an NDD-associated rare genetic variant, and being diagnosed with autism by age 5 years. More severe and more variable delays were also associated with membership in earlier study cohorts, consistent with autism’s diagnostic and ascertainment expansion over the last 30 years. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: As the largest summary to date of developmental milestone attainment in autism, to our knowledge, this study demonstrates substantial developmental variability across different conditions and provides important context for understanding the phenotypic and etiological heterogeneity of autism.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

12. Martinez VC, Turnage D. Social Support and Parenting Stress in Hispanic Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Issues Ment Health Nurs;2022 (Jul 18):1-11.

The purpose of this integrative review is to synthesize the literature examining the relationship between parenting stress and social support in Hispanic parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A database search of studies that evaluated parenting stress and social support in this population was conducted. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria. Despite high stress levels, both informal and formal social supports improved parenting stress among Hispanic families. Few studies evaluated culturally sensitive social support interventions. With the increasing prevalence of ASD, the development of culturally sensitive social support interventions is necessary to promote the well-being of Hispanic families.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

13. Miller HL, Thomi M, Patterson RM, Nandy K. Correction: Effects of Intersectionality Along the Pathway to Diagnosis for Autistic Children With and Without Co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Nationally-Representative Sample. J Autism Dev Disord;2022 (Jul 19)

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

14. Minolin TM, Raj BS, Vijayaraghavan R. Effectiveness of evidence-based intervention on social skill and communication among autism spectrum disorder children. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol;2022;29(2):e1-e10.

AIM: Evidence-based intervention is an effective method for improving autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children on socialization, behavior, and communication and may have an impact on brain activity. The aim of this study is to find the effectiveness of picture exchange communication system (PECS) and parent-implemented intervention (PII) among ASD children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty ASD children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected and assigned into control (n=30) and experimental (n=30) groups. The experimental group received evidence-based intervention with PECS and PII for 6 months, whereas the control group received routine care. The children were assessed for social relationship and reciprocity (SRR) and speech language communication (SLC) before and after the intervention. For the experimental group, a 3-month post-intervention was also assessed. Parametric and nonparametric statistical methods were used. RESULTS: The data showed that male nuclear family and birth order above 1 was more among ASD. Two-way RM ANOVA showed a significant difference among the groups and tests (P < 0.001) and interaction of groups with tests (P < 0.001). Experimental post-test-2, that is, after 6 months, showed significant improvement in SRR and SLC compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the PECS and PII as a nursing strategy can improve ASD children socialization and communication.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

15. Morrill NK, Joly-Amado A, Li Q, Prabhudeva S, Weeber EJ, Nash KR. Reelin central fragment supplementation improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. Exp Neurol;2022 (Jul 19);357:114170.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability and is characterized by autistic behaviors, childhood seizures, and deficits in learning and memory. FXS has a loss of function of the FMR1 gene that leads to a lack of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) expression. FMRP is critical for synaptic plasticity, spatial learning, and memory. Reelin is a large extracellular glycoprotein essential for synaptic plasticity and numerous neurodevelopmental processes. Reduction in Reelin signaling is implicated as a contributing factor in disease etiology in several neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, and autism. However, the role of Reelin in FXS is poorly understood. We demonstrate a reduction in Reelin in Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice, suggesting that a loss of Reelin activity may contribute to FXS. We demonstrate here that Reelin signaling enhancement via a single intracerebroventricular injection of the Reelin central fragment into Fmr1 KO mice can profoundly rescue cognitive deficits in hidden platform water maze and fear conditioning, as well as hyperactivity during the open field. Improvements in behavior were associated with rescued levels of post synaptic marker in Fmr1 KO mice when compared to controls. These data suggest that increasing Reelin signaling in FXS could offer a novel therapeutic for improving cognition in FXS.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

16. Mughal S, Faizy RM, Saadabadi A. Autism Spectrum Disorder.2022 (Jan)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disabilities. This spectrum is characterized by repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, activities, and problems in social interactions. ASD is a complicated neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by behavioral and psychological problems in children. These children become distressed when their surrounding environment is changed because their adaptive capabilities are minimal. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. Children with ASD have co-occurring language problems, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy at higher rates than the general population. Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), also called disintegrative psychosis and Heller syndrome, is a rare disorder that is subsumed under ASD. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), childhood disintegrative disorder, along with other types of autism, is merged into a single spectrum called autism spectrum disorder. Childhood disintegrative disorder has a relatively late onset and is characterized by regression of previously acquired skills in the areas of social, language, and motor functioning. It is not known what causes this disease, and it is often seen that children who have this disorder have achieved normal developmental milestones before the regression of skills. The age at which this disease manifests is variable, but it is typically seen after three years of reaching normal milestones. The regression can be so fast that the child may be mindful of it, and in the beginning, may even ask what is going on with them. Some children may appear to be responding to hallucinations, but the most common and distinct feature of this disease is that the attained skills are gone. Many children are already delayed when the disorder becomes apparent, but these delays are not always evident in young children. This condition has been described as a devastating disease that affects both the individual’s life and the family.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

17. Mughal S, Faizy RM, Saadabadi A, Doerr C. Autism Spectrum Disorder (Nursing).2022 (Jan)

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of rapidly growing disabilities. They are characterized by repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, problems in social interactions. ASD is a complicated neurological disorder that is characterized by behavioral and psychological problems in children. These children become distressed when their surrounding environment is changed because their adaptive capabilities are minimal. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. Children with ASD have co-occurring language problems, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy at higher rates than the general population. Childhood disintegrative disorder, also called disintegrative psychosis and Heller syndrome, is a rare disorder that is categorized under ASD. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), childhood disintegrative disorder, along with other types of autism, are merged into a single spectrum called autism spectrum disorder. Childhood disintegrative disorder has a relatively late onset and is characterized by regression of previously acquired skills in the areas of social, language, and motor functioning. It is not known what causes this disease, and it is often seen that children who have this disorder have achieved normal developmental milestones before the regression of skills. The age at which this disease manifests is variable, but it is typically seen after three years of reaching normal milestones. The regression can be so fast that the child may be mindful of it, and in the beginning, may even ask what is going on with them. Some children may appear to be responding to hallucinations, but the most common and distinct feature of this disease is that the attained skills are gone. Many children are already delayed when the disorder becomes apparent, but these delays are not always evident in young children. This condition has been described as a devastating disease that affects both the individual’s life and the family.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

18. Naithani L, Goldie C, Kaur A, Butter C, Lakhera S, Leadbitter K, Divan G. Early Autism Intervention Components Deliverable by Non-specialists in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review. Front Psychiatry;2022;13:914750.

INTRODUCTION: The past decade has seen key advances in early intervention for autistic children in high-income countries, with most evidence based on specialist delivery of interventions. The care gap seen in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) remains close to 100%. A key challenge in addressing this care gap concerns the paucity of specialists available to deliver services. Task-sharing provides an important potential solution; there is a need to identify interventions that are suitable for scaled-up delivery through task-sharing in low-resourced settings. We aimed to conduct a scoping review to identify studies which reported autism intervention delivered by non-specialists within LMIC and, using established frameworks, specify intervention components with evidence of successful non-specialist delivery. METHODS: A scoping literature search, conducted within four databases, generated 2,535 articles. Duplicates were removed, followed by screening of titles and abstracts, with 10% double-rated for reliability. 50 full text articles were then screened independently by two raters. Articles were included if studies: (a) were conducted in LMIC; (b) included samples of autistic children (age < 10); (c) evaluated psycho-social interventions delivered by non-specialists; (d) reported child outcomes; and (e) were peer-reviewed full-texts in English. Two established frameworks - @Practicewise and NDBI-Fi framework - were then used to ascertain the commonly delivered components of these interventions. RESULTS: Two studies met the inclusion criteria. Both studies evaluated parent-mediated interventions delivered by non-specialists in South Asia. Through the two frameworks, we identified elements and techniques that had been delivered successfully by non-specialists. CONCLUSION: There is evidence from two acceptability and feasibility trials that non-specialists can be trained to deliver some intervention elements and techniques within parent-mediated interventions, with good fidelity and acceptability and evidence of effectiveness. The review points up the lack of a widespread evidence base in this area and need for further research in low resourced settings, including well-powered trials and mechanistic analyses to identify active ingredients. A focus on the pre-requisites for non-specialist delivery is critical to reduce inequity and provide universal health coverage within resource-constrained health systems.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

19. Omairi C, Mailloux Z, Antoniuk SA, Schaaf R. Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil. Am J Occup Ther;2022 (Jul 1);76(4)

IMPORTANCE: Research conducted in the United States has found that occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration® is an effective evidence-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Replication of this research in other cultures is needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration in a sample of Brazilian children with ASD. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Occupational therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen children with ASD ages 5-8 yr (n = 9 in the intervention group, n = 8 in the usual-care control group) recruited from a local hospital via flyers and word-of-mouth. Completed pretreatment characterization and baseline measurement. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention group received occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration, and the control group received usual therapeutic and educational services only. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We conducted a pre-post assessment of self-care and socialization using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory and individualized goal ratings. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group scored significantly higher on outcome measures of self-care (p = .046, rb = .57), social function (p = .036, rb = .61), and parent-identified goal attainment (p < .001, rb = .94) compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration was effective in enhancing self-care, socialization, and goal attainment for children with ASD in a Brazilian cohort. What This Article Adds: This study contributes further support from outside the United States that occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration is an effective evidence-based intervention to improve self-care, socialization, and parent-identified goal attainment in children with ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

20. Shenouda J, Barrett E, Davidow AL, Sidwell K, Halperin W, Silenzio VMB, Zahorodny W. Disparities in Early Intervention Program Participation by Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in a US Metropolitan Area, 2006 to 2016. JAMA Pediatr;2022 (Jul 18)

IMPORTANCE: Multiple studies have shown the value of early interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the US, the Early Intervention Program (EIP) is mandated by law (Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]) to provide services to all young children with delays or disabilities. However, the extent to which children with ASD participate in this key service system is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate EIP use by children with ASD from 2006 to 2016 and to describe the factors associated with EIP participation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used repeated data collected from 2006 to 2016 by active ASD surveillance of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area as reported in the New Jersey Autism Study. The New Jersey Autism Study identified 4050 children aged 8 years with ASD from 2006 to 2016. Demographic and clinical data were collected and participation in an EIP was assessed through active surveillance. Data were analyzed from June to December 2021. EXPOSURE: Sociodemographic factors associated with the outcome of EIP participation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Participation in an EIP assessed at age 8 years. Demographic, ecological, and clinical factors, as well as temporal patterns, were examined by using standard and multilevel logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among 4050 children aged 8 years with ASD by active surveillance, 1887 (46.6%) received EIP services. Of these children, 3303 (81.6%) were boys; 1105 (27.3%) were Hispanic, 801 (19.8%) were non-Hispanic Black, 1816 (44.8%) were non-Hispanic White, and 328 (8.1%) were non-Hispanic other (included Alaska Native or American Indian and Asian or Pacific Islander). In adjusted regression models, non-Hispanic Black children with ASD had lower odds of EIP participation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.84) compared with their non-Hispanic White peers, and children residing in affluent areas had higher odds of receiving EIP services (AOR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.36-2.15) compared with children residing in underserved areas. Children with ASD born in 2008 had higher odds of EIP participation than children born in 1998 (AOR, 2.64; 95% CI, 2.07-3.36). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Early identification of ASD is an important public health priority and receipt of EIP services may improve ASD outcomes. Approximately half of the population of children aged 8 years with ASD received EIP services between 2006 and 2016, and EIP participation by children with ASD increased during the 10-year period. However, receipt of EIP services was marked by strong socioeconomic status- and race and ethnicity-based disparities. Universal ASD screening and additional strategies are needed to address disparities and to increase access to EIP services.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

21. Skorich DP, Haslam SA. The integrated self-categorization model of autism. Psychol Rev;2022 (Jul 18)

In this article, we formally present the Integrated Self-Categorization model of Autism (ISCA). This model brings together the cognitive-perceptual and social-communication features of autism under a single explanatory framework. Specifically, ISCA proposes that the social-communication features that are related to theory of mind dysfunction emerge from the cognitive-perceptual features related to enhanced perceptual functioning and weak central coherence, and proposes that they are linked by dysfunction in the self-categorization process. We present the assumptions on which the model is based, and from these, we derive a set of precise, testable hypotheses, including a set of novel hypotheses that do not emerge from any existing models of autism. We then provide evidence that supports the model, derived from a number of direct tests of the hypotheses that it generates. We conclude by discussing the implications of the model for understanding autism and for intervention to improve the lives of autistic people, as well as future directions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

22. Sohl K, Kilian R, Brewer Curran A, Mahurin M, Nanclares-Nogués V, Liu-Mayo S, Salomon C, Shannon J, Taraman S. Feasibility and Impact of Integrating an Artificial Intelligence-Based Diagnosis Aid for Autism Into the Extension for Community Health Outcomes Autism Primary Care Model: Protocol for a Prospective Observational Study. JMIR Res Protoc;2022 (Jul 19);11(7):e37576.

BACKGROUND: The Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Autism Program trains clinicians to screen, diagnose, and care for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in primary care settings. This study will assess the feasibility and impact of integrating an artificial intelligence (AI)-based ASD diagnosis aid (the device) into the existing ECHO Autism Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT) diagnosis model. The prescription-only Software as a Medical Device, designed for use in children aged 18 to 72 months at risk for developmental delay, produces ASD diagnostic recommendations after analyzing behavioral features from 3 distinct inputs: a caregiver questionnaire, 2 short home videos analyzed by trained video analysts, and a health care provider questionnaire. The device is not a stand-alone diagnostic and should be used in conjunction with clinical judgment. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the feasibility and impact of integrating an AI-based ASD diagnosis aid into the ECHO Autism STAT diagnosis model. The time from initial ECHO Autism clinician concern to ASD diagnosis is the primary end point. Secondary end points include the time from initial caregiver concern to ASD diagnosis, time from diagnosis to treatment initiation, and clinician and caregiver experience of device use as part of the ASD diagnostic journey. METHODS: Research participants for this prospective observational study will be patients suspected of having ASD (aged 18-72 months) and their caregivers and up to 15 trained ECHO Autism clinicians recruited by the ECHO Autism Communities research team from across rural and suburban areas of the United States. Clinicians will provide routine clinical care and conduct best practice ECHO Autism diagnostic evaluations in addition to prescribing the device. Outcome data will be collected via a combination of electronic questionnaires, reviews of standard clinical care records, and analysis of device outputs. The expected study duration is no more than 12 months. The study was approved by the institutional review board of the University of Missouri-Columbia (institutional review board-assigned project number 2075722). RESULTS: Participant recruitment began in April 2022. As of June 2022, a total of 41 participants have been enrolled. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective observational study will be the first to evaluate the use of a novel AI-based ASD diagnosis aid as part of a real-world primary care diagnostic pathway. If device integration into primary care proves feasible and efficacious, prolonged delays between the first ASD concern and eventual diagnosis may be reduced. Streamlining primary care ASD diagnosis could potentially reduce the strain on specialty services and allow a greater proportion of children to commence early intervention during a critical neurodevelopmental window. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05223374; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05223374. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/37576.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

23. Stolte M, Trindade-Pons V, Vlaming P, Jakobi B, Franke B, Kroesbergen EH, Baas M, Hoogman M. Characterizing Creative Thinking and Creative Achievements in Relation to Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry;2022;13:909202.

Previous research on ADHD and ASD has mainly focused on the deficits associated with these conditions, but there is also evidence for strengths. Unfortunately, our understanding of potential strengths in neurodevelopmental conditions is limited. One particular strength, creativity, has been associated with both ADHD and ASD. However, the distinct presentations of both conditions beg the question whether ADHD and ASD associate with the same or different aspects of creativity. Therefore, the current study investigated the links between ADHD and ASD symptoms, creative thinking abilities, and creative achievements. To investigate the spectrum of ADHD and ASD symptoms, self-reported ADHD and ASD symptoms, convergent (Remote Associations Test) and divergent thinking (Alternative Uses Task) and creative achievements (Creative Achievement Questionnaire) were assessed in a self-reportedly healthy sample of adults (n = 470). We performed correlation analysis to investigate the relation between ADHD/ASD symptoms and creativity measures. In a second phase of analysis, data from an adult ADHD case-control study (n = 151) were added to investigate the association between ADHD symptoms and divergent thinking in individuals with and without a diagnosis of ADHD. Our analysis revealed that having more ADHD symptoms in the general population was associated with higher scores on all the outcome measures for divergent thinking (fluency, flexibility, and originality), but not for convergent thinking. Individuals with an ADHD diagnosis in the case-control sample also scored higher on measures of divergent thinking. Combining data of the population based and case-control studies showed that ADHD symptoms predict divergent thinking up to a certain level of symptoms. No significant associations were found between the total number of ASD symptoms and any of the creativity measures. However, explorative analyses showed interesting links between the ASD subdomains of problems with imagination and symptoms that relate to social difficulties. Our findings showed a link between ADHD symptoms and divergent thinking abilities that plateaus in the clinical spectrum of symptoms. For ASD symptoms, no relation was found with creativity measures. Increasing the knowledge about positive phenotypes associated with neurodevelopmental conditions and their symptom dimensions might aid psychoeducation, decrease stigmatization and improve quality of life of individuals living with such conditions.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

24. Thordarson D, Silva J, Ouyang B, Bernard B, Hall D. Quality of Life in Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome. Mov Disord Clin Pract;2022 (Jul);9(5):710-711.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

25. Venker CE, Johnson JR. Electronic Toys Decrease the Quantity and Lexical Diversity of Spoken Language Produced by Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Age-Matched Children With Typical Development. Front Psychol;2022;13:929589.

Many young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have language delays. Play-based interactions present a rich, naturalistic context for supporting language and communication development, but electronic toys may compromise the quality of play interactions. This study examined how electronic toys impact the quantity and lexical diversity of spoken language produced by children with ASD and age-matched children with typical development (TD), compared to traditional toys without electronic features. Twenty-eight parent-child dyads (14 per group) played with both electronic and traditional toy sets in a counter-balanced order. We transcribed child speech during both play sessions and derived the number of utterances and number of different word (NDW) roots per minute that children produced. Children with ASD and children with TD talked significantly less and produced significantly fewer unique words during electronic toy play than traditional toy play. In this way, children appear to take a « backseat » to electronic toys, decreasing their communicative contributions to play-based social interactions with their parents. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how toy type can affect parent-child play interactions and the subsequent learning opportunities that may be created. Play-based interventions for children with ASD may be most effective when they incorporate traditional toys, rather than electronic toys.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

26. Wang L, Ong JH, Ponsot E, Hou Q, Jiang C, Liu F. Mental representations of speech and musical pitch contours reveal a diversity of profiles in autism spectrum disorder. Autism;2022 (Jul 18):13623613221111207.

As a key auditory attribute of sounds, pitch is ubiquitous in our everyday listening experience involving language, music and environmental sounds. Given its critical role in auditory processing related to communication, numerous studies have investigated pitch processing in autism spectrum disorder. However, the findings have been mixed, reporting either enhanced, typical or impaired performance among autistic individuals. By investigating top-down comparisons of internal mental representations of pitch contours in speech and music, this study shows for the first time that, while autistic individuals exhibit diverse profiles of pitch processing compared to non-autistic individuals, their mental representations of pitch contours are typical across domains. These findings suggest that pitch-processing mechanisms are shared across domains in autism spectrum disorder and provide theoretical implications for using music to improve speech for those autistic individuals who have language problems.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

27. Zhang R, Birgegård A, Fundín B, Landén M, Thornton LM, Bulik CM, Dinkler L. Association of autism diagnosis and polygenic scores with eating disorder severity. Eur Eat Disord Rev;2022 (Jul 19)

Among individuals with eating disorders (ED), those with co-occurring autism are often considered to have more severe presentations and poorer prognosis. However, previous findings have been contradictory and limited by small sample size and/or cross-sectional assessment of autistic traits. We examine the hypothesis that autism diagnosis and autism polygenic score (PGS) are associated with increased ED severity in a large ED cohort using a broad range of ED severity indicators. Our cohort included 3189 individuals (64 males) born 1977-2000 with current or previous anorexia nervosa who participated in the Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative-Sweden (ANGI-SE) and for whom genotypes and linkage to national registers were available. We identified 134 (4.2%) individuals with registered autism diagnoses. Individuals with confirmed autism diagnosis had significantly more severe ED across three sets of severity indicators. Some of the largest effects were found for the proportion of individuals who attempted suicide and who received tube feeding (higher in autism), and for the time spent in inpatient care (longer in autism). Results for autism PGS were not statistically significant. Adapting ED treatment to the needs of individuals with co-occurring autism is an important research direction to improve treatment outcome in this group.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)