1. Joshi G, Biederman J, Wozniak J, Doyle R, Hammerness P, Galdo M, Sullivan N, Williams C, Brethel K, Woodworth KY, Mick E. {{Response to Second Generation Antipsychotics in Youth with Comorbid Bipolar Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {CNS Neurosci Ther};2010 (Nov 29)
Objective: To assess the impact of comorbid autism spectrum disorders (ASD) on the response to second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) in pediatric bipolar disorder (BPD). Methods: Secondary analysis of identically designed 8-week open-label trials of SGA monotherapy (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, or aripiprazole) in youth with BPD. Results: Of the 151 BPD subjects 15% (n= 23) met criteria for comorbid ASD. There were no differences in the rate of antimanic response (YMRS change >/=30% or CGI-Improvement </=2: 65% vs. 69%; P= 0.7) in the presence of comorbid ASD. Conclusion: No difference observed in the rate of antimanic response or tolerability to SGA monotherapy in the presence of ASD comorbidity.
2. Noriuchi M, Kikuchi Y, Yoshiura T, Kira R, Shigeto H, Hara T, Tobimatsu S, Kamio Y. {{Altered white matter fractional anisotropy and social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Brain Res};2010 (Nov 29);1362:141-149.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have severe difficulties in social interaction and communication, as well as restricted and/or stereotyped patterns of behavior. Previous studies have suggested that abnormal neural connectivity might be associated with higher information processing dysfunction involving social impairment. However, the white matter structure in ASD is poorly understood. To explore this, we conducted a voxel-based, whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis to determine fractional anisotropy (FA), lambda(1), lambda(2) and lambda(3) in high-functioning children with ASD compared with age-, gender-, and handedness-matched healthy control participants. We then investigated whether DTI parameters were associated with behaviorally measured social function. We found that FA and lambda(1) were significantly lower in the ASD group than in the control group in the white matter around left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), posterior superior temporal sulcus/temporo-parietal junction, right temporal pole, amygdala, superior longitudinal fasciculus, occipitofrontal fasciculus, mid- and left anterior corpus callosum, and mid- and right anterior cingulate cortex. The FA value in the left DLPFC was negatively correlated with the degree of social impairment in children with ASD. Higher lambda(1) values were observed in the cerebellar vermis lobules in the ASD group. The white matter alterations in children with ASD were around cortical regions that play important roles in social cognition and information integration. These DTI results and their relationship to social impairment add to evidence of cerebral and cerebellar white matter structural abnormalities in ASD.
3. van Niekerk ME, Groen W, Vissers CT, van Driel-de Jong D, Kan CC, Oude Voshaar RC. {{Diagnosing autism spectrum disorders in elderly people}}. {Int Psychogeriatr};2010 (Nov 29):1-11.
ABSTRACTBackground: As autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have largely been neglected in old-age psychiatry, the objective of the present paper is to describe the diagnostic process in elderly patients.Methods: A systematic review of the literature on ASD in older age was undertaken and illustrated by a case series of three elderly patients first diagnosed with ASD in later life by a tertiary mental health clinic.Results: The search of the literature only yielded three papers on late-life ASD, while the review of the available diagnostic procedures among adults suggests some relevance for screening instruments (Autism Questionnaire), diagnostic instruments (Module 4, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), and neuropsychological examination to profile impairments. Nonetheless, the case reports clearly showed that taking a thorough history with the patient, corroborated and supplemented by a close relative or caregiver who has known the patient for at least ten years, still remains the most important diagnostic tool.Conclusion: The three case studies show that in clinical practice ASD can easily be missed in elderly individuals presenting with comorbid psychiatric disorders, potentially causing iatrogenic damage. Although further research on phenotyping and diagnosing ASD in older people is warranted, the most important step at this point is to create a greater awareness of the possibility of ASD in old age among health-care professionals working with people in this age group.
4. Wong YM. {{Tongue Acupuncture and Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Altern Complement Med};2010 (Nov 29)
