Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders最新文献

{"title":"Adapting cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in autistic children: A commentary","authors":"Dora D. Onwumere,&nbsp;Kristie K. Patten","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102404","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely recognized intervention for addressing anxiety in both non-autistic and autistic youth. This commentary explores the landscape of implementing CBT for anxiety disorders in autistic children, as investigated by Cervin and colleagues in their 2023 study. While the study provides valuable insights, our commentary aims to broaden the scope of CBT, such as the perspectives of those with lived experiences and consideration of strength-based practices. For this reason, we draw attention to unexplored facets and potential limitations, advocating for further adaptations of CBT practices aligning with the neurodiversity-affirming perspective as we aim to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of CBT for autistic individuals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102404"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140879206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early pyridoxine administration rescues autism-like behavior in the BTBR T+tf/J autistic model","authors":"Ruotong Ruan ,&nbsp;Wenyu Shao ,&nbsp;Yichun Su,&nbsp;Jiayin Liu,&nbsp;Jing Luo,&nbsp;Yi Luo,&nbsp;Lian Wang,&nbsp;Xiaotang Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairment and repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. An imbalanced oxidative stress status and neuroinflammation are involved in ASD development. In this study, we investigated the effects of pyridoxine, a form of vitamin B6 with potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory features, on autism-like behavior in BTBR T + ltpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a model of autism. Mice received pyridoxine from postnatal days 7 to 14. Behavioral tests were conducted on 8-week-old male mice, and the inflammatory status and oxidative stress levels were also assessed in the mouse hippocampus. Postnatal pyridoxine treatment significantly improved social deficits, stereotyped behaviors, and cognitive deficits in BTBR mice. In addition, pyridoxine treatment alleviated neuroinflammation in the hippocampus manifested by reduced Iba1⁺ microglia and inflammatory factors, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB. Further, pyridoxine-treated BTBR mice had elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 in the hippocampus. Postnatal pyridoxine administration might improve autistic-like behaviors in BTBR mice via attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102410"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140822990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of emotional factors in face processing abilities in autism spectrum conditions","authors":"Natasha Baxter,&nbsp;Hannah Hobson","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Facial emotion recognition is considered atypical in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but emotion recognition abilities vary widely in autistic people, and there are inconsistent findings on the causes of these differences. Research indicates alexithymia may result in facial emotion recognition differences in ASC. Alternatively, mood disorders have been linked to atypical facial emotional expression recognition abilities in neurotypical adults. Investigating both the effects of alexithymia and mood disorders (depression and anxiety) is necessary to establish which of these factors may cause atypical facial emotion recognition in ASC. This study aimed to examine whether alexithymia or mood disorder symptomology is a predictor of atypical facial emotion recognition in individuals with ASC. Ninety-eight non-autistic adults and 80 autistic adults were recruited. Participants completed an online facial processing task to examine emotion and identity recognition abilities, the AQ-28, the TAS-20, and the HADS to measure autism severity, alexithymia symptoms, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Regression-based analyses found that autistic traits and autistic group membership did not predict facial emotion processing abilities after accounting for demographic variables, alexithymia and mood disorders: however, neither alexithymia nor mood disorder symptoms predicted variance in face processing abilities either. Our results concur with previous meta-analyses of facial emotion processing in autism spectrum disorder which report that studies do not always report deficits in face processing in autism: our findings are also not supportive of the model that argues that alexithymia explains facial emotion processing difficulties in autism.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102400"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724000758/pdfft?md5=7d576acc8b8541ca26bddb13c104b7f2&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724000758-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140822991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical and neurobehavioral phenotype in children with autism and intragenic copy number duplications in CNTN4: Case series report","authors":"Watfa Al-Mamari ,&nbsp;Ahmed B. Idris ,&nbsp;Najat Fadlallah ,&nbsp;Saquib Jalees ,&nbsp;Muna Al-Jabri ,&nbsp;Al-Mundher Al-Maawali ,&nbsp;Abeer Alsayegh","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102399","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Copy Number Variation (CNV) of contactin genes (CNTNs) - CNTN3, CNTN4, CNTN5, and CNTN6 - have been associated with various neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, the literature on the associated phenotypes to specific copy number variants of these genes is still scarce. Therefore, limiting clinicians' and researchers' understanding of the impact of these CNVs makes genetic counselling regarding recurrence risks more challenging. In this study, we report on five patients with rare CNVs involving the <em>CNTN4</em> gene and the associated clinical and neurobehavioral phenotype. Overall, the patients exhibited stereotypic motor symptoms, including finger and hand mannerisms (4/5), and repetitive use of objects (4/5), as well as sensory symptoms, including unusual sensory interests or hypersensitivity (4/5). One child of the cohort had epilepsy, and (4/5) had Intellectual Disability. All cases fulfilled DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, larger cohorts are needed for unbiased characterization of the phenotypic features associated with the genetic variations in <em>CNTN4.</em></p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102399"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140815668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Run, hide, or fight? Considerations for young children with autism and lockdown drills","authors":"Melissa A. Jackson","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Lockdown drills have become a normal part of school activities for children across the United States. Despite the increase in drill practice and consistent prevalence of school shootings, little information exists to deem current practice effective, and little guidance exists to guide educators’ preparation efforts. As it stands, schools are planning and executing lockdown drills with variability with little to no planning dedicated to diverse learners such as young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At the same time, a vast research base that supports evidence-based practices for learners with a diagnosis of ASD exists, yet these known supports are not being utilized to prepare them for these life-threatening emergencies. This article summarizes the current guidance and research surrounding lockdown drills and evidence-based practices used to teach children with ASD similar skills that could be applied to teach lockdown drills. Potential strategies for multiple component interventions are described for researchers to consider, individualize, and evaluate.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102402"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140815669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“We go through trauma”: South Asian parents’ experiences of autism diagnosis and early supports for their autistic children in Australia","authors":"Jodie Smith ,&nbsp;Alexandra Aulich ,&nbsp;Catherine Bent ,&nbsp;Christos Constantine ,&nbsp;Kathleen Franks ,&nbsp;Nilushi Goonetilleke ,&nbsp;Cherie Green ,&nbsp;Rabia Ijaz ,&nbsp;Kanisha Patel ,&nbsp;Helen Said ,&nbsp;Sarah Wood ,&nbsp;Kristelle Hudry","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102408","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Growth of the Australian South Asian migrant community has surged over the last decade. Yet we have minimal information about migrant South Asian parents’ experiences of raising an autistic child in Australia. This participatory research informs the issue through reporting first-hand accounts of accessing an autism diagnosis and receiving early supports for South Asian parents and their autistic children living in Australia.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Parents from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (<em>n</em> = 13) were interviewed in their preferred language. During interviews, parents were asked about their experiences of the diagnostic process and navigating early supports for their autistic child. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Parents described experiencing myriad challenges to accessing early autism supports, including limited knowledge, funding issues, lengthy waiting lists, and poor-quality clinicians. They also reported struggling to accept their child’s diagnoses and facing judgement from within their community. Unlike other migrant Australian communities, this group of parents did not describe obtaining community-specific supports and often navigated their journeys alone. These cumulative challenges impacted parents’ mental health. Yet, parents also described proactively seeking as much support as possible, preferring goal-based, intensive, behavioural early interventions.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion and implications</h3><p>Clinicians should be aware that families from particular migrant/cultural minority groups may be more isolated than others, and consider how best to support a sense of community belonging in other ways. That these parents expressed preference for intensive, behavioural autism supports also highlights the diversity of service-related views and desires in the autistic and autism communities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"114 ","pages":"Article 102408"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724000837/pdfft?md5=4d3078a39444b0b80c5d6552b3ea1549&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724000837-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140645687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The implication of sleep disturbances on daily executive functioning and learning problems in children with autism without intellectual disability","authors":"Carmen Berenguer ,&nbsp;Irene Lacruz-Pérez ,&nbsp;Eva Rosa ,&nbsp;Simona de Stasio ,&nbsp;Nora Choque-Olsson","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102403","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have sleep disturbances, executive functioning difficulties, and learning problems. The aim of this study was twofold. First, to examine the quality of sleep in children with ASD without intellectual disability and typically developing (TD) children. Second, to explore the implication of sleep disturbances in the association between daily executive functioning and learning problems in children with ASD without intellectual disability.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>The sample included 47 children with autism without intellectual disability and 32 TD children. Parent-reported questionnaires were used to assess participants' sleep disturbances, daily executive functions, and learning problems. All statistical analyses performed were adjusted for age, IQ, and medication.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>As expected, the prevalence of sleep disturbances was significantly higher in the ASD group than in the TD group. Regarding the second aim of the study, the total score of sleep disturbances was significantly associated with learning problems and the metacognition subdomain of executive functioning in children with autism without intellectual disability. In turn, executive functions and learning problems were also significantly associated. Finally, sleep disturbances were found to mediate the relationship between global executive functioning and learning problems in children with ASD without intellectual disability.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The findings suggest that sleep disturbances are common in children with autism, and that they play a mediating role in the association between executive functions and learning problems. Therefore, sleep should be a crucial aspect of interventions to improve the learning and academic performance of school-aged children with ASD without intellectual disability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"114 ","pages":"Article 102403"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724000783/pdfft?md5=a39164e8c62421bc642b4996368d503d&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724000783-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140643563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an online skills training platform for autistics adults: A participatory approach","authors":"G. Van Doorn ,&nbsp;B. Klein ,&nbsp;S.L. Edwards ,&nbsp;K. Shandley ,&nbsp;J.A. Caine","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102407","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>The voices of adults living on the autism spectrum are being increasingly heard, yet interventions that can be adjusted to their individual needs are urgently required. This paper reports on the first phase of a project that aims to have adults with autism participate meaningfully in co-designing an engaging digital skills development platform incorporating micro-skills training programs and digital tools to enhance wellbeing and social-emotional functioning.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Adults with autism were recruited in Australia to participate in an online survey (N = 17) and/or focus groups or interviews (N = 11) designed to establish preferences for content, presentation, and functionality of the platform.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Participants highlighted the importance of integrating communication, social, relationship, employment, and organisational skills with content presented via graphics/diagrams and text. In addition, a consistent finding across both quantitative and qualitative data was the preference for content delivered by peers.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>There are few evidence-based interventions designed to improve the lives of adults with autism. Key areas of focus were identified, with the importance of personalising the platform to ensure it caters to varying levels of ability and the different preferences of adults with autism also noted.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102407"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724000825/pdfft?md5=556123f1f1429278e481f121de5c05c1&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724000825-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140644500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of the CNTNAP2 gene in the development of autism spectrum disorder","authors":"Elena V. Valeeva ,&nbsp;Ilnur S. Sabirov ,&nbsp;Liliya R. Safiullina ,&nbsp;Dmitriy O. Nikitin ,&nbsp;Irina I. Semina ,&nbsp;Tim Rees ,&nbsp;Denis O. Fesenko ,&nbsp;Ildus I. Ahmetov","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102409","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which genetic and environmental factors interact in its development. Research suggests that the contactin associated protein 2 (<em>CNTNAP2</em>) gene may play a role in ASD pathophysiology, yet more studies involving human participants and animal models of autism are needed. One such model may be the use of prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model to induce autism-like behaviors in offspring rats. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the association of the <em>CNTNAP2</em> gene rs2710102 variant with ASD in children; and (2) to examine the effect of prenatal exposure to VPA on <em>Cntnap2</em> gene expression in the rat brain. The study included 167 children of European ancestry—81 diagnosed with ASD (20 girls, 61 boys; age 4.9 ± 1.4 years) and 86 controls (44 girls, 42 boys; 5.1 ± 1.2 years). <em>In vivo</em> experiments were conducted in 80 rats (40 with the VPA model of autism), with <em>Cntnap2</em> gene expression analysis in the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. Results demonstrated that the frequency of the <em>CNTNAP2</em> gene rs2710102 GG genotype was significantly higher in children with ASD when compared with controls (33.3 vs 19.8%; OR=2.03, 95%CI [1.004, 4.102], <em>p</em> = 0.035), although, potentially due to bias in cohort selection, in the ASD children this polymorphism did not meet Hardy-Weinberg expectations (<em>χ</em>² =5.40, <em>p</em> = 0.02). In addition, <em>Cntnap2</em> gene expression was significantly lower (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) in the amygdala and hippocampus of VPA rats when compared with controls, regardless of sex. These results support previous research and provide evidence for the <em>CNTNAP2</em> gene as a risk factor for ASD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"114 ","pages":"Article 102409"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724000849/pdfft?md5=d23d8a9096f392bfc822709447f3459d&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724000849-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140645688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of daily physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)","authors":"Benjamin Adams,&nbsp;Maninderjit Kaur","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102398","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>There is evidence for reduced physical activity, increased screen time, and poor sleep quality in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, a comprehensive investigation of the factors predicting these daily behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD is relatively unexplored.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The current study conducted a secondary analysis of a 2021 national survey completed by parents with or without a child with ASD. Factors specific to the child (e.g., age, sex, race), family (e.g., parent education, employment), and neighborhood (e.g., geographic location, neighborhood amenities) predicting daily health behaviors of children were analyzed.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Specifically for the ASD population, several child-specific variables predicted one or more of the daily health behaviors in children with ASD such as age, sex, participation, and ASD severity. In contrast, none of the family and neighborhood variables (except geographic location) predicted the health behaviors of children with ASD.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Recommendations for planning and implementation of health wellness and promotion programs targeted towards promoting physical activity and reducing screen time in children with ASD are discussed.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 102398"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140644499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}