1. Fernandez-Alcantara M, Garcia-Caro MP, Perez-Marfil MN, Hueso-Montoro C, Laynez-Rubio C, Cruz-Quintana F. {{Feelings of loss and grief in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)}}. {Res Dev Disabil};2016 (May 24);55:312-321.
BACKGROUND: Various authors have reported feelings of loss and grief in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. However, no previous studies have investigated the structure of these feelings. AIMS: To analyze in depth the feelings of loss in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. METHOD: A qualitative study was conducted based on grounded theory. Twenty parents participated through purposive sampling. PROCEDURE: Semi-structured interviews were conducted, asking about different emotional aspects of the upbringing of a child with autism spectrum disorder. Atlas.ti 6.2 program was used for open, axial, and selective coding. RESULTS: The core category that explained the feelings of these parents was unexpected child loss, associated with shock, negation, fear, guilt, anger, and/or sadness. Two processes were identified, one associated with the resolution of grief and the other with obstacles to overcoming it. IMPLICATIONS: Feelings of loss play an important role in explaining the complex emotions experienced by these parents. Different intervention strategies are proposed.
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2. Helles A, Gillberg IC, Gillberg C, Billstedt E. {{Asperger syndrome in males over two decades: Quality of life in relation to diagnostic stability and psychiatric comorbidity}}. {Autism};2016 (May 26)
This study examined objective quality of life (work, academic success, living situation, relationships, support system) and subjective quality of life (Sense of Coherence and Short-Form Health Survey-36) in an adult sample of males (n = 50, mean age: 30 years) with Asperger syndrome diagnosed in childhood and followed prospectively over two decades. The association between long-term diagnostic stability of an autism spectrum disorder and/or comorbid psychiatric disorders with quality of life was also examined. The results showed great variability as regards quality of life. The subsample that no longer fulfilled an autism spectrum disorder had full-time jobs or studies (10/11), independent living (100%), and reported having two or more friends (100%). In the stable autism spectrum disorder group, 41% had full-time job or studies, 51% lived independently, and 33% reported two or more friends, and a significant minority had specialized employments, lived with support from the government, or had no friends. Academic success was positively correlated with IQ. A majority of the total group scored average Sense of Coherence scores, and the mean for Short-Form Health Survey-36 was above average regarding psychical health and below average regarding mental health. Stability of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was associated with objective but not subjective quality of life, while psychiatric comorbidity was associated with subjective but not objective quality of life.
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3. Im DS. {{Trauma as a Contributor to Violence in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Am Acad Psychiatry Law};2016 (Jun);44(2):184-192.
In examining contributors to violence among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one factor that has received little attention is a history of psychological trauma. This study’s purpose was to explore the possible mechanisms for an association between trauma and violence in persons with ASD. The literature regarding the neurobiology and theoretical underpinnings of ASD is reviewed and compared with the literature on the neurobiology and theoretical underpinnings of trauma as a risk factor for violence in individuals without ASD. Information from this comparison is then used to formulate possible mechanisms for a trauma-violence association in ASD. Individuals with ASD may possess sensitized prefrontal-cortical-limbic networks that are overloaded in the face of trauma, leading to unchecked limbic output that produces violent behavior, and/or cognitive dysfunction (including deficits in theory of mind, central coherence, and executive function) that impacts trauma processing in ways that portend violence. While these mechanisms for a trauma-violence association in ASD may have case-based support, more research is needed to confirm these mechanisms and clarify whether in fact trauma increases violence risk in ASD. To facilitate the investigation, it would be helpful for clinical and forensic evaluators to obtain a careful trauma history when evaluating all individuals, including those with ASD.
4. Michna I, Trestman R. {{Correctional Management and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Am Acad Psychiatry Law};2016 (Jun);44(2):253-258.
Over the past two decades, the recognition and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has grown. One result is the parallel recognition of a substantial prevalence of individuals with ASD who, because of life-long social and emotional deficits, have become involved with the criminal justice system (CJS). It is generally acknowledged that many CJS professionals who encounter individuals with ASD are ill equipped to treat or advocate for them. Currently, there is no universal training on ASD for CJS professionals, nor are there service standards for individuals with ASD during incarceration, to support their community re-entry and reduce recidivism. In this article, we review the background and context for management and treatment during incarceration for individuals with ASD.
5. Sierro G, Rossier J, Mohr C. {{Validation of the French Autism Spectrum Quotient scale and its relationships with schizotypy and Eysenckian personality traits}}. {Compr Psychiatry};2016 (Jul);68:147-155.
BACKGROUND: Autism and schizophrenia spectra were long considered distinct entities. Yet, recent studies emphasized overlapping clinical and personality features suggesting common mechanisms and liabilities. Independent notions, however, highlight that the two spectra oppose each other socially (positive schizotypal hyper-mentalism versus autistic hypo-mentalism). METHODS: To clarify these relationships, we used data from 921 French-speaking Swiss undergraduates to firstly validate the French Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (AQ) identifying an optimal factor structure. Secondly, we assessed relationships between this AQ structure and schizotypic personality traits. RESULTS: Results from correlational and principal component analyses replicated both overlapping and opposing relationships. CONCLUSIONS: We conjecture that autistic traits opposing positive schizotypy represent autistic mentalizing deficits. We discuss implications of our findings relative to theories of autism and schizophrenia spectrum relationships.
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6. Sinclair D, Oranje B, Razak KA, Siegel SJ, Schmid S. {{Sensory processing in autism spectrum disorders and Fragile X syndrome-From the clinic to animal models}}. {Neurosci Biobehav Rev};2016 (May 24)
Brains are constantly flooded with sensory information that needs to be filtered at the pre-attentional level and integrated into endogenous activity in order to allow for detection of salient information and an appropriate behavioral response. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) are often over- or under-reactive to stimulation, leading to a wide range of behavioral symptoms. This altered sensitivity may be caused by disrupted sensory processing, signal integration and/or gating, and is often being neglected. Here, we review translational experimental approaches that are used to investigate sensory processing in humans with ASD and FXS, and in relevant rodent models. This includes electroencephalographic measurement of event related potentials, neural oscillations and mismatch negativity, as well as habituation and pre-pulse inhibition of startle. We outline robust evidence of disrupted sensory processing in individuals with ASD and FXS, and in respective animal models, focusing on the auditory sensory domain. Animal models provide an excellent opportunity to examine common mechanisms of sensory pathophysiology in order to develop therapeutics.
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7. Syriopoulou-Delli CK, Cassimos DC, Polychronopoulou SA. {{Collaboration between teachers and parents of children with ASD on issues of education}}. {Res Dev Disabil};2016 (May 24);55:330-345.
This study examines the views of teachers and parents on critical issues concerning their collaboration in the education of children with ASD. For the purposes of this study, a total of 171 teachers and 50 parents of children with ASD, attending mainstream or special primary school units, were randomly selected in Greece in order to respond to a structured questionnaire. The majority of teachers and parents were found to be of the opinion that communication and collaboration between teachers and parents are rendered as critical [n=165 teachers (96.5%), n=50 parents (100%)]. Postgraduate academic studies and working experience with children with ASD are seen to be the most important factors shaping the attitudes of teachers towards collaboration with parents. On the other hand, the types of working unit teachers were employed in are seen to rank in lower importance.
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8. Tabet R, Moutin E, Becker JA, Heintz D, Fouillen L, Flatter E, Krezel W, Alunni V, Koebel P, Dembele D, Tassone F, Bardoni B, Mandel JL, Vitale N, Muller D, Le Merrer J, Moine H. {{Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) controls diacylglycerol kinase activity in neurons}}. {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A};2016 (May 27)
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by the absence of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) in neurons. In the mouse, the lack of FMRP is associated with an excessive translation of hundreds of neuronal proteins, notably including postsynaptic proteins. This local protein synthesis deregulation is proposed to underlie the observed defects of glutamatergic synapse maturation and function and to affect preferentially the hundreds of mRNA species that were reported to bind to FMRP. How FMRP impacts synaptic protein translation and which mRNAs are most important for the pathology remain unclear. Here we show by cross-linking immunoprecipitation in cortical neurons that FMRP is mostly associated with one unique mRNA: diacylglycerol kinase kappa (Dgkkappa), a master regulator that controls the switch between diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid signaling pathways. The absence of FMRP in neurons abolishes group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent DGK activity combined with a loss of Dgkkappa expression. The reduction of Dgkkappa in neurons is sufficient to cause dendritic spine abnormalities, synaptic plasticity alterations, and behavior disorders similar to those observed in the FXS mouse model. Overexpression of Dgkkappa in neurons is able to rescue the dendritic spine defects of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 gene KO neurons. Together, these data suggest that Dgkkappa deregulation contributes to FXS pathology and support a model where FMRP, by controlling the translation of Dgkkappa, indirectly controls synaptic proteins translation and membrane properties by impacting lipid signaling in dendritic spine.
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9. Westphal A. {{Trauma and Violence in Autism}}. {J Am Acad Psychiatry Law};2016 (Jun);44(2):198-199.
Comorbidities of autism spectrum disorder are discussed as an introduction to the argument that, although ASD may modify presentation, it does not confer any protection against other disorder, including the negative effects of trauma (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder). Dr. Im’s hypotheses are discussed, and a case example of childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) is raised to give clinical support to his hypotheses. CDD is a rare form of ASD that is defined by late onset, a traumatic prodrome, onset of behaviors including some with similarities to PTSD, and aggression.
