1. {{Patient information. Helping a child with autism}}. {Am Fam Physician} (Feb 15);81(4):461.
2. Coates H. {{Autism spectrum disorders: wading through the controversies on the web}}. {Med Ref Serv Q};2009 (Jul);28(3):259-267.
Autism is one of three developmental disorders in the group known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This spectrum of disorders has an estimated prevalence of one in 150 children. Increased awareness and diagnosis has led to an explosion of information available about the disorder. This explosion has made scientific research more readily available, along with inaccurate and spurious information. Autism is a disorder without a known cause or cure and few treatments with sufficient evidence to indicate effectiveness. Due to the variable presentation of autism, there is no single intervention that is effective for all individuals. The complexity of the disorder is addressed by research and practice across several disciplines, including education, psychology, psychiatry, neurology, genetics, and internal medicine. This resource guide will introduce the range of autism spectrum disorders, its various perspectives and treatments, and will point librarians and patrons to introductory resources to provide links for further learning.
3. Flippin M, Reszka S, Watson LR. {{Effectiveness of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on Communication & Speech for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Metanalysis}}. {Am J Speech Lang Pathol} (Feb 24)
PURPOSE: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a popular communication training program for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This metanalysis reviews the current empirical evidence for PECS in impacting communication and speech outcomes for children with ASD. Methods A systematic review of the literature on PECS written between 1994 and June 2009 was conducted. Quality of scientific rigor was assessed and used as an inclusion criterion in computation of effect sizes. Effect sizes were aggregated separately for single subject and group studies for communication and speech outcomes. RESULTS: Eight single-subject experiments (18 participants) and three group studies (95 PECS participants, 65 in other intervention/control) were included. Results indicated PECS is promising, but not as yet established evidenced-based intervention for facilitating communication for children with ASD ages 1-11 years. Small to moderate gains in communication were demonstrated following training. Gains in speech were small to negative. CONCLUSIONS: This metanalysis synthesizes gains in communication and relative lack of gains made in speech across the PECS literature for children with ASD. Concerns about maintenance and generalization are identified. Emerging evidence of potential pre-intervention child characteristics are discussed. Phase IV was identified as a possibly influential program characteristic for speech outcomes.
4. Goldman SE, Surdyka K, Cuevas R, Adkins K, Wang L, Malow BA. {{Defining the sleep phenotype in children with autism}}. {Dev Neuropsychol};2009 (Sep);34(5):560-573.
Sleep concerns are common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We identified objective sleep measures that differentiated ASD children with and without parental sleep concerns, and related parental concerns and objective measures to aspects of daytime behavior. ASD poor sleepers differed from ASD good sleepers on actigraphic (sleep latency, sleep efficiency, fragmentation) and polysomnographic (sleep latency) measures, and were reported to have more inattention, hyperactivity, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. Fragmentation was correlated with more restricted/repetitive behaviors. This work provides the foundation for focused studies of pathophysiology and targeted interventions to improve sleep in this population.
5. Greenaway R, Howlin P. {{Dysfunctional Attitudes and Perfectionism and Their Relationship to Anxious and Depressive Symptoms in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord} (Feb 25)
In spite of increasing interest in cognitive behaviour therapy for emotional disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little research has explored the relevance of the cognitive model in this population. This study explores dysfunctional attitudes and perfectionism in boys with ASD and the relationship with anxious and depressive symptoms. Compared to a typically developing group (n = 42), boys with ASD (n = 41) endorsed more dysfunctional attitudes and reported higher emotional symptoms. The relationship between emotional and cognitive variables was weak in both groups, although in the ASD group dysfunctional attitudes were significantly associated with reported obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Reasons for elevated dysfunctional attitudes in the ASD group are discussed and the roles of cognitive inflexibility and social impairments are explored.
6. Mostafa GA, El-Hadidi ES, Hewedi DH, Abdou MM. {{Oxidative stress in Egyptian children with autism: relation to autoimmunity}}. {J Neuroimmunol} (Feb 26);219(1-2):114-118.
We are the first to study the relationship between oxidative stress (by measuring plasma F2-isoprostane, as a marker of lipid peroxidation, and glutathione peroxidase, as an antioxidant enzyme) and autoimmunity (as indicated by serum antineuronal antibodies) in a group of 44 Egyptian autistic children and 44 healthy matched-children. Our results showed that oxidative stress was found in 88.64% of autistic children. Oxidative stress, resulting from elevated plasma F2-isoprostane and/or reduced glutathione peroxidase, had significant risk for antineuronal positivity, which was found in 54.5% of autistic children, (odds ratio: 12.38 and 6.43, respectively, confidence interval: 1.37-112.10 and 1.21-34.19, respectively). Conclusions: the strong association between oxidative stress and autoimmunity in autistic children may indicate the possible role of oxidative stress, through induction of autoimmunity, in some autistic patients. Therefore, studies considering the role of antioxidants and immunotherapy in amelioration of autistic manifestations are recommended.
7. Perche O, Laumonnier F, Baala L, Ardourel MY, Menuet A, Robin V, Mortaud S, Montecot-Dubourg C, Richard O, Pichon J, Briault S. {{[Autism, genetics and synaptic function alterations.]}}. {Pathol Biol (Paris)} (Feb 22)
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a deficit of language and communication both associated with a restricted repertoire of activities and interests. The current prevalence of autistic disorder stricto sensu is estimated at 1/500 whereas autism spectrum disorders (ASD) increases up to 1/150 to 1/200. Mental deficiency (MD) and epilepsy are present in numerous autistic individuals. Consequently, autism is as a major public health issue. Autism was first considered as a non biological disease; however various rational approaches for analysing epidemiological data suggested the possibility of the influence of genetic factors. In 2003, this hypothesis was clearly illustrated by the characterization of genetic mutations transmitted through a mendelian manner. Subsequently, the glutamate synapse appeared as a preferential causal target in autism because the identified genes encoded proteins present in this structure. Strikingly, the findings that an identical genetic dysfunction of the synapse might also explain some MD suggested the possibility of a genetic comorbidity between these neurodevelopmental conditions. To date, various identified genes are considered indifferently as « autism » or « MD » genes. The characterization of mutations in the NLGN4X gene in patients with Asperger syndrome, autism without MD, or MD without autism, was the first example. It appears that a genetic continuum between ASD on one hand, and between autism and MD on the other hand, is present. Consequently, it is likely that genes already involved in MD will be found mutated in autistic patients and will represent future target for finding new factors in autism.
8. Thatcher RW, North DM, Neubrander J, Biver CJ, Cutler S, Defina P. {{Autism and EEG Phase Reset: Deficient GABA Mediated Inhibition in Thalamo-Cortical Circuits}}. {Dev Neuropsychol};2009 (Nov);34(6):780-800.
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between electroencephalogram (EEG) phase reset in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) subjects as compared to age matched control subjects. The EEG was recorded from 19 scalp locations from 54 autistic subjects and 241 control subjects ranging in age from 2.6 years to 11 years. Complex demodulation was used to compute instantaneous phase differences between all pairs of electrodes and the 1st and 2nd derivatives were used to measure phase reset by phase shift duration and phase lock duration. In both short (6 cm) and long (21-24 cm) inter-electrode distances phase shift duration in ASD subjects was significantly shorter in all frequency bands but especially in the alpha-1 frequency band (8-10 Hz) (p < .0001). Phase lock duration was significantly longer in the alpha-2 frequency band (10-12 Hz) in ASD subjects (p < .0001). An anatomical gradient was present with the occipital-parietal regions the most significant. The findings in this study support the hypothesis that neural resource recruitment occurs in the lower frequency bands and especially the alpha-1 frequency band while neural resource allocation occurs in the alpha-2 frequency band. The results are consistent with a general GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter deficiency resulting in reduced number and/or strength of thalamo-cortical connections in autistic subjects.
9. Totsika V, Felce D, Kerr M, Hastings RP. {{Behavior Problems, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Quality of Life for Older Adults With Intellectual Disability With and Without Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord} (Feb 25)
The evidence base on outcomes associated with autism in older adulthood is limited. The expected increase in the prevalence of older adults with autism highlights the need to describe their profiles and service needs. Adults 50 years or older with an intellectual disability (ID) and the triad of impairments characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were compared to peers with ID only, and younger adults with ASD and ID. After accounting for ability differences, older adults with ASD did not differ from those with ID in terms of behavior problems, psychiatric disorder, and quality of life. Any differences in the skills of adults with ASD were associated with decreased adaptive skills, and not the presence of ASD per se.
