Autism最新文献

{"title":"Autistic and autism community perspectives on infant and family support in the first two years of life: Findings from a community consultation survey.","authors":"Catherine A Bent, Alexandra Aulich, Christos Constantine, Esther Fidock, Patrick Dwyer, Cherie Green, Jodie Smith, Ava N Gurba, Lucas T Harrington, Katherine E Gore, Aspasia Stacey Rabba, Lauren N Ayton, Kathryn Fordyce, Jonathan Green, Rachel Jellett, Lyndel J Kennedy, Katherine E MacDuffie, Shoba S Meera, Linda R Watson, Andrew Jo Whitehouse, Kristelle Hudry","doi":"10.1177/13623613241262077","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613241262077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emerging evidence suggests parenting supports implemented in the first 2 years of life may influence developmental outcomes for infants more likely to be Autistic. Yet questions remain about acceptability of these supports to the Autistic and autism communities. Through mixed-methods participatory research - co-designed and produced by Autistic and non-Autistic researchers - we sought diverse community perspectives on this topic, including to understand the relative acceptability of different support options. A total of 238 participants completed our online survey: 128 Autistic and 110 non-Autistic respondents, some of whom also self-identified as parents of Autistic, otherwise neurodivergent, and/or neurotypical children, and/or as health/education professionals and/or researchers. Most participants agreed that very-early-in-life approaches should help parents understand and support their children, and disagreed that these should seek to suppress autistic behaviour. Most agreed with the goal of respecting infant autonomy, and that parent education towards creating sensitive, accommodating environments could be appropriate, albeit with nuanced differences-of-opinion regarding the acceptability of specific therapeutic approaches. Participants generally endorsed the terms 'support' (vs 'intervention') and 'early-in-life' (vs 'at-risk'/'pre-emptive'). Engaging equal-power partnerships for the development, delivery of, and discourse around early-in-life autism supports will ensure end-user community values and needs are respected.Lay abstractMost support programmes for Autistic children are available only after they are diagnosed. Research suggests that parenting supports may be helpful for parents and their infants, when provided in the first 2 years of life - before a formal diagnosis is given, but when information suggests an infant is more likely to be Autistic. However, we do not know how acceptable these types of supports might be to the Autistic and autism communities. We asked 238 Autistic and non-autistic people - some of whom were parents, and some of whom were professionals working in research, health and education - about their perspectives on very-early supports. People generally agreed that it could be acceptable to work with parents to help them understand and support their child's specific needs and unique ways of communicating. People suggested a variety of support strategies could be acceptable, including parent education, changing the environment to meet an infant's needs, and creating opportunities for infants' to make choices and exercise control. People preferred respectful and accurate language - including the term 'support' (rather than 'intervention') and 'early-in-life' (rather than 'at-risk' of autism, or 'pre-emptive' when describing developmental stage). Continuing to work with community members will help to make sure autism support programmes are relevant and helpful.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"2282-2296"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12332231/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141854613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A longitudinal evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.","authors":"Bibiana Restrepo, Sandra L Taylor, Matthew Dominic Ponzini, Kathleen Angkustsiri, Marjorie Solomon, Sally J Rogers, Paul Ashwood, Daphne S Say, Sonny Caceres, Shayan Alavynejad, Brianna Heath, David G Amaral, Christine Wu Nordahl","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362349","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613251362349","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently reported in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This study sought to determine the longitudinal trajectory of gastrointestinal symptoms without a medical etiology in children with autism compared to similar aged participants with typical development. A total of 475 children enrolled in this longitudinal study (322 autism spectrum disorder and 153 typical development groups) were evaluated at up to three time points between 2 and 12 years of age. Nine common gastrointestinal symptoms and formal medical gastrointestinal diagnosis were assessed using a physician-administered parent interview. A rigorous symptom classification was performed by physicians via clinical consensus. The frequency and persistence of gastrointestinal symptoms across childhood were compared between groups. Associations between gastrointestinal symptoms and measures of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, sleep problems, sensory problems, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and social communication were also evaluated. Children with autism presented with more gastrointestinal symptoms at each time point, and they were also more likely to experience multiple and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence and number of gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with greater impairment in internalizing behaviors, sleep, communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors. Participants in the autism spectrum disorder group reported more gastrointestinal symptoms without known etiology throughout childhood in this longitudinal well-characterized sample.Lay AbstractChildren with autism have been found to experience more medical issues including gastrointestinal symptoms. In this study, participants in the autism group were more likely to experience gastrointestinal symptoms than their typically developing peers. They were also more likely to experience multiple gastrointestinal symptoms at the same time and more likely to have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms throughout their childhood. Increased gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with more challenges with sleep, communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors. Clinicians and parents should become more aware of the high occurrence of gastrointestinal problems in children with autism. If identified, these symptoms are often treatable which may improve their well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362349"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12404668/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How do typically developing brothers and sisters accept their siblings with Down syndrome or autism? An examination of personal characteristics.","authors":"Raaya Alon","doi":"10.1177/13623613251366870","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251366870","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Typically developing siblings' acceptance of a sibling with Down syndrome (DS) or autism influences the nature of sibling relations and their willingness to care for their sibling with disability in the future. Optimism is a central personality characteristic in coping with challenging life situations and the emotions toward the sibling with Down syndrome/autism are prominent in siblings' adjustment to their complex circumstances. The current study examined how optimism and emotions toward a sibling with Down syndrome or autism influence typically developing siblings' acceptance of their sibling with a disability. The role of demographic variables (sex of the typically developing sibling, diagnosis, and independent functioning of the sibling with disability) was also considered. Participants included 520 Jewish-Israeli siblings (189 brothers, 331 sisters, aged 18-27). Of these, 284 had siblings with Down syndrome, and 236 had siblings with autism. Siblings completed self-report questionnaires on optimism, emotions, and acceptance. Hierarchical regressions with three-way interactions revealed that optimism, sex, and the sibling's diagnosis and independent functioning explained a significant portion of variance in acceptance. The findings highlight the importance of fostering optimism and emotional processing, particularly for siblings of individuals with autism and among brothers. These results have implications for interventions aimed at improving sibling relationships and future caregiving.Lay AbstractBeing a brother or sister to an individual with Down syndrome or autism can shape how siblings feel about and care for their sibling with the disability. This study looked at how optimism (a general positive outlook) and emotions relate to accepting the individual with the disability. The study also considered whether the non-disabled sibling's gender, diagnosis (Down syndrome or autism), and level of independent capability of the sibling with the disability contributed to the acceptance levels. Participants in the study were 520 Jewish-Israeli young adults (ages 18-27) who had a sibling with Down syndrome or autism. They answered questions about their emotions, optimism, and acceptance of the sibling with the disability. The results showed that optimism and emotions were important for acceptance, but this varied depending on whether the typically developing sibling was male or female, whether the sibling had Down syndrome or autism, and their level of independent capability. These findings suggest that helping siblings, especially brothers of individuals with autism, build optimism and process their emotions, can improve sibling relationships and support future caregiving roles.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251366870"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenging neurotypical norms: Autistic adults' understandings of health.","authors":"Jamie Koenig, Kiley J McLean, Meghan Haas, Megan Horvath, Mariah Vigil, Nahime G Aguirre Mtanous, Sarah Effertz, Lauren Bishop","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362336","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613251362336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined how autistic adults conceptualize health and whether their conceptualizations differed substantively from those of their emergency contacts (people who helped with health or healthcare management). We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 dyads of autistic adults and emergency contacts. A thematic analysis with deductive and inductive codes identified four main themes: (1) health is subjective well-being; (2) healthy is the absence of pain; (3) challenging neurotypical norms; and (4) differences in health definitions were smaller than perceived. Autistic participants and emergency contacts endorsed the first two themes. Only autistic participants discussed the third theme. Despite broad agreement about what \"healthy\" means, emergency contacts perceived significant differences between their definition of health and that of their autistic counterpart. The data suggest these differences were primarily about health behaviors. We present a model for a Personalized Health Ecosystem, describing important factors for personal conceptualization of health among autistic adults. These findings demonstrate the need for individualized care, for healthcare providers to partner with autistic patients to best support their health, and for education programs for providers who work with this community.Lay AbstractAutistic adults experience worse health and have a higher risk of mortality on average. Many autistic adults say that physicians and other healthcare providers do not understand autism and autistic people's needs. This study wants to understand how autistic adults specifically understand healthy habits as this could inform better care. We interviewed 10 autistic adults and their emergency contacts (family or friends who help them with healthcare decisions) about how they understand health and what they do to be healthy. We compared what the two groups said. Both autistic adults and their emergency contacts said that being healthy could look different for everyone. Beyond physical health, participants talked about mental, financial, and spiritual health. Participants described \"healthy\" as the absence of pain, though the fact that you can be in pain and healthy was mentioned. Autistic adults and their emergency contacts described health similarly. Autistic adults, however, shared more non-traditional health-promoting behaviors. These findings can help healthcare providers better understand how to work with autistic patients. Physicians should work with autistic patients on how to be healthy, rather than assume that autistic adults do not understand health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362336"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12455499/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevated autistic features in Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders.","authors":"Ipsita Dey, Swarnima Pathak, Sreerupa Chakrabarty, Matthew K Belmonte, Supriyo Choudhury, Hrishikesh Kumar, Bhismadev Chakrabarti","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251362267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biological accounts have suggested an overlap between Parkinson's disease and autism despite their being studied largely at opposite ends of the life course. Characterising this overlap can identify potentially shared aetiologies and care pathways for these conditions. However, this overlap has so far only been tested in older autistic adults who show greater Parkinson's disease traits. The converse has not been directly assayed, that is, if adults with Parkinson's disease have higher autistic features. This preregistered study addressed this gap in the literature by asking whether adults with Parkinson's disease manifest elevated autistic traits. To test whether any such overlap might be unique to Parkinson's disease, we included two control groups: (1) people without any parkinsonism but with motor disability of neurological or neurovascular origin (other motor disorders), and (2) typically ageing controls with no motor disorders. We tested N = 330 participants (equal numbers of Parkinson's disease, other motor disorders and typically ageing controls) on their autistic traits and cognitive abilities. Clinical diagnoses were verified through a tertiary neurology clinic. Higher autistic traits were noted in both Parkinson's disease and other motor disorder groups compared to the typically ageing controls, suggesting an association between motor disorders and dimensional autistic traits. Exploratory analyses revealed a clear pattern of results in males, where Parkinson's disease was associated with the highest autistic traits, followed by the other motor disorders, and then by the typically ageing group. No such pattern was observed in females. These results are not explained by differences in language or age or reporter effects. This new evidence suggests a sex-specific overlap between these conditions and highlights the need for accounting for elevated autistic features in planning support for males with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.Lay AbstractPeople with autism are three times more likely than non-autistic people to develop Parkinson's disease in later life, and some of the same genetic variants contribute to risks for both these conditions. Although Parkinson's disease is more common in people with autism, is autism correspondingly more common in people with Parkinson's disease? Or what about autistic patterns of thought and behaviour, even in Parkinson's patients who are not also diagnosed, or diagnosable, with autism itself? We surveyed such autistic traits in three groups of older people: Parkinson's patients, patients with other neurological disorders of movement and those without any neurological or movement disorder or condition. Men with Parkinson's disease and men with non-parkinsonian motor disorders had more autistic traits than normal. Women with Parkinson's or other motor disorders, on the other hand, did not differ from women without any motor disorder. This was true no matter in which of the three langu","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362267"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-reported strengths and talents of autistic adults.","authors":"Linnea A Lampinen, Joseph Singer, Xinyue Wang, Benjamin VanHook, Ellen Wilkinson, Vanessa H Bal","doi":"10.1177/13623613251364361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251364361","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many adults express dissatisfaction with the autism diagnostic process, and concerns have been cited regarding the lack of neurodiversity-affirming assessment methods. In part, this is due to instruments framing behaviors as symptoms causing impairment, overlooking potential benefits. Systematically measuring strengths and talents during assessment may inform diagnosis and support planning in a more neurodiversity-affirming manner. Historically, research has relied on caregiver-reported strengths; more information on self-reported strengths is needed to inform self-report instrument development and assessment practices. Participants included 127 legally independent autistic adults recruited primarily through SPARK Research Match, who completed open-ended questions regarding strengths and talents. Qualitative content analysis identified themes of strengths, and associations between strengths and gender, age, age of diagnosis, and education level were examined. Autistic and nonautistic team members collaborated on qualitative coding, data interpretation, and manuscript writing. Themes emerging from the qualitative responses included Cognitive/Executive Functioning (61%), Character Strengths (55%), Creative/Artistic (52%), Academic (33%), and Interpersonal (30%). Overlap between strength domains and &lt;i&gt;Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders&lt;/i&gt; (5th ed.) autism diagnostic criteria suggest that more nuance is needed in how we conceptualize autism, considering both strengths and challenges. Domains of strengths identified in this study can be used to inform measure development and strengths-based assessment and support planning.Lay AbstractAutism research and testing has had a heavy focus on difficulties, without much attention to the strengths of autistic people. Most surveys ask about challenges associated with autism, but do not consider the positive qualities and talents of autistic adults. Previous research on strengths in autistic individuals has mostly been based on what parents report, so we do not know as much about how autistic adults see their own strengths. We asked 127 autistic adults to tell us about their strengths and talents in an online survey. Both autistic and nonautistic team members worked together to group answers by similar themes or categories. We explained categories and compared how they were related to participants' characteristics. Autistic adults shared many different strengths, including skills in problem-solving, character, creativity, academics, and getting along with others. Some strengths were more likely to be mentioned by people of different ages, education levels, or genders. The results show that autistic adults have many different strengths. It is important for researchers, doctors, and the public to recognize both the strengths and challenges of autistic adults to create a more balanced view of autism. Thinking about these strengths when diagnosing autism and planning supports can improve t","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251364361"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential association between altered oral microbiota and oxidative stress in individuals with autism.","authors":"Liyan Zhong, Pengcheng Ren, Haibo Wang, Chenghui Fu, Dingxia Feng, Min Wang, Liqin Zeng, Paul Yao, Tao Wang","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251362259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism spectrum disorders are potentially associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recently, the oral cavity has gained attention as the starting point of the digestive tract. We aim to explore the potential association between altered oral microbiota and oxidative stress in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. We conducted a case-control study involving 54 subjects with autism spectrum disorders and 46 typically developing participants. Oral epithelial cells and saliva samples were collected to analyze oxidative stress markers and oral microbiota composition using 16S rDNA sequencing. Compared with typically developing participants, individuals with autism spectrum disorders exhibited suppressed mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase 2 and RAR-related orphan receptor α, increased H3K9me2 modifications at superoxide dismutase 2 promoter, elevated levels of 8-oxo-dG in oral epithelial cells, and a reduced ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in saliva. In addition, alpha and beta diversity analyses showed significant differences in microbial richness, evenness, and intersample variation between the autism spectrum disorder and typically developing groups. Statistical analyses confirmed marked distinctions in microbial diversity and community structure between the two groups. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders show increased oxidative stress and altered oral microbiota compared with typically developing participants. While the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, these findings suggest that altered oral microbiota may be linked to oxidative stress, providing insights into autism spectrum disorder pathology and potential avenues for clinical intervention.Lay AbstractAutism spectrum disorders are linked to gut-related issues, but the exact causes are still unclear. Recent research focuses on the mouth, the first part of the digestive system, to understand how it may play a role. This study looked at how the oral microbiome (the community of microorganisms in the mouth) and oxidative stress (an imbalance between harmful free radicals and antioxidants in the body) differ in people with autism spectrum disorders compared with typically developing individuals. Researchers studied 54 people with autism spectrum disorders and 46 typically developing individuals by analyzing their saliva and oral cells. Results showed that people with autism spectrum disorders had higher levels of oxidative stress markers and noticeable differences in their oral microbiota diversity and structure. These findings suggest a potential connection between changes in oral bacteria and oxidative stress in autism spectrum disorders, opening the door for new ways to study and treat autism spectrum disorders-related health issues.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362259"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144940286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating family messaging: Qualitative experiences of Black caregivers of children with autism.","authors":"Dalia Marquez, Kattia Mata, Felicia Williams Brown, Mary E Grewe, Joseph Piven, Kelly E Caravella","doi":"10.1177/13623613251361604","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613251361604","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Black caregivers of children with autism express that there are gaps in both knowledge and acceptance of disabilities within their communities. This lack of information and resources provided to Black communities can lead to tensions within families regarding autism diagnoses and how to support individuals with autism in their families. As part of a larger qualitative study, 23 Black caregivers of children with autism shared their experiences with the messages received from family members about their child's autism diagnosis. Two overarching themes emerged regarding family messaging: <i>Lack of Understanding and Denial of Autism</i> and <i>Supportive Acceptance and Inclusion</i>. Six subthemes were identified that highlight the nuance within the messaging content. These findings can inform strategies to develop culturally tailored interventions to support Black caregivers in navigating the range of messages received from family members when their child receives a diagnosis of autism. Further research should build on these findings to investigate how directly this family messaging links to broader messaging in Black culture regarding autism, as well as how both family and cultural messaging may interact with factors such as awareness or use of autism resources, attitudes toward research, and long-term social and behavioral outcomes for Black children with autism.Lay abstractBlack caregivers of children with autism say there are gaps in knowledge and acceptance of disabilities in their communities. This lack of information and resources can cause tensions in families about autism diagnoses and how to support their children. This study talked to 23 Black caregivers to learn about their experiences with the messages they received about their child's autism diagnosis from family members. We found two main themes: <i>Lack of Understanding and Denial of Autism</i>, and <i>Supportive Acceptance and Inclusion</i>. Within these themes, parents shared different experiences, like family members denying autism exists, not wanting to learn about it, or being very supportive and inclusive. Black caregivers also talked about the emotional toll the negative messages take on them. This work is important because it can help create culturally tailored support for Black caregivers of children with autism, so that they can engage with family members in more supportive ways. Future research should look at how these messages affect the use of autism resources, attitudes toward research, and long-term outcomes for Black children with autism.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251361604"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144820456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacological or non-pharmacological therapies? The impact of different therapies on sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.","authors":"Li Sirao, Huang Yaping, Liu Yunshan, Li Dan","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251362273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of various therapies on sleep disturbances in children with autism spectrum disorder. We analyzed 35 randomized controlled trials comparing five interventions: melatonin, parent-mediated sleep education, behavioral interventions, physical activity, and adjunctive therapies. Standardized mean differences and surface under the cumulative ranking curve values were calculated to rank efficacy. Physical activity demonstrated the largest effect size (standardized mean difference = 1.13, surface under the cumulative ranking curve = 98.1%), followed by melatonin (standardized mean difference = 0.57, surface under the cumulative ranking curve = 62.8%) and behavioral interventions (standardized mean difference = 0.49, surface under the cumulative ranking curve = 51.6%). Parent education and adjunctive therapies showed limited efficacy. Heterogeneity (<i>I</i>² = 67%) was addressed via sensitivity analyses. A stepped-care model is recommended, prioritizing daytime physical activity (30-45 min, 3-5 sessions/week) combined with telehealth parent education as first-line treatment, followed by prolonged-release melatonin and therapist-supported cognitive behavioral therapy for non-responders.Lay abstractMany children with autism spectrum disorder struggle with sleep problems like trouble falling asleep, waking up at night, or not sleeping enough. This study looked at different treatments to improve sleep in these children, including melatonin supplements, parent-led bedtime routines, exercise programs, and other therapies. The researchers reviewed 35 studies involving over 2700 children with autism spectrum disorder. They compared how well each treatment worked using a method called network meta-analysis, which ranks treatments based on their effectiveness. Exercise programs, such as swimming or martial arts, were the most effective at improving sleep. These activities helped children fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Melatonin supplements also worked well but had side effects like morning drowsiness. Behavioral strategies, like structured bedtime routines, showed moderate benefits, while therapies like weighted blankets or iron supplements had little impact. This study helps families and doctors choose the best treatments for sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Exercise is a safe, low-cost option that not only improves sleep but also enhances daytime behavior. The findings support starting with physical activity and parent coaching before trying medications like melatonin. Recognizing effective treatments can reduce stress for caregivers and improve quality of life for children with autism spectrum disorder.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362273"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144820458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The healthcare experiences of middle and older age autistic women in the United Kingdom.","authors":"Amy Gillions, Elizabeth O'Nions, Hassan Mansour, Sarah Hoare, Will Mandy, Joshua Stott","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251362265","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autistic women experience a higher prevalence of physical and mental health conditions compared with autistic men and non-autistic women, plus greater premature mortality and a higher suicide risk. However, little is known about autistic women's experiences of healthcare, particularly in middle and later life. We aimed to explore autistic women's perspectives on accessing healthcare services in the United Kingdom. Fifteen autistic women aged between 51 and 73 years participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four main themes were generated: (1) Stigma and stereotypes in professionals' understanding of autism leading to poor-quality care, (2) Accumulation of negative healthcare experiences reducing participants' confidence in services, (3) Efforts required to navigate healthcare systems and (4) The future: age-related concerns and hopes for change. The autistic women in this study reported multiple barriers to accessing healthcare and they felt stigmatised by repeated negative interactions with healthcare providers. Intersections between age and gender affected how participants felt they were perceived in healthcare settings; specifically, participants felt that being an older woman contributed to their autism-related needs being overlooked or misunderstood. Implications for services and directions for future research are discussed.Lay abstract<b>Why was the study done and what did the researchers do?</b>Autistic women face distinctive healthcare challenges compared with autistic men and non-autistic women. However, there is not much information about their experiences with healthcare in the UK, especially as they age. To better understand the lived experiences of this population, the research team in this study interviewed 15 autistic women in middle to later life about their healthcare experiences. Information from the interviews was analysed by creating themes based on what the participants had reported.<b>What did the researchers find?</b>Four main themes came out of the analysis.1. Participants expressed concerns that stigma and stereotypes associated with autism led to poor healthcare experiences.2. Participants' confidence in seeking help was affected by having many negative experiences across their lives. Difficult interactions with healthcare providers also made them less confident in seeking help.3. Navigating the healthcare system was a challenge for participants.4. Participants thought a lot about the future. They had worries about ageing and what consequences this might have on their health and support needs. They also shared hopes for better healthcare in the future.<b>What do the findings mean?</b>The findings highlight that autistic women in middle to later life face many barriers in accessing healthcare. The study emphasises the need for better understanding and support for autistic women in healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362265"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144820459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}