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Berends D, Bent CA, Vivanti G, Dissanayake C, Hudry K. Developmental Skills Moderate the Association Between Core Autism Features and Adaptive Behaviour in Early Childhood. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2419-2429. [PMID: 37142900 PMCID: PMC11286721 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05932-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE While research indicates that both the core features of autism and associated developmental skills influence adaptive behaviour outcomes, results to date suggest greater influence of the latter than the former, and little attention has been given to how the interaction of both together might impact functional disability. Seeking to expand understanding of associations between young children's core social autism features, developmental skills, and functional ability/disability, we specifically tested whether early developmental skills might have a moderating effect on the association between early social features and subsequent functional disability. METHODS Data from 162 preschool children were available for this study. These included time-1 measures of social autism features (ADOS-Social Affect score) and developmental skills (MSEL-Developmental Quotient; DQ), and a measure of functional ability/disability (VABS-Adaptive Behaviour Composite; ABC) available at follow-up 1-year later (time-2). RESULTS Time-1 ADOS-SA and MSEL-DQ scores were concurrently associated with one another, and both prospectively associated with time-2 VABS-ABC scores. Examination of partial correlations (i.e., controlling for MSEL-DQ) demonstrated that the association of time-1 ADOS-SA and time-2 VABS-ABC was accounted for by shared variance with DQ. Formal moderation analysis returned a non-significant overall interaction term, but showed a lower-bound region of significance whereby the association of time-1 ADOS-SA with time-2 VABS-ABC was significant for children with baseline DQ ≤ 48.33. CONCLUSION Our results add to a body of empirical evidence consistent with an understanding of the needs of and resources available to autistic people through a 'cognitive compensation' lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Berends
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Giacomo Vivanti
- A.J.Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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McGowan K, Berends D, Hudry K, Vivanti G, Dissanayake C, Bent CA. Brief report: bidirectional association of core autism features and cognitive abilities in early childhood. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2769-2776. [PMID: 35917020 PMCID: PMC11286696 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We explored associations among the core behavioural features and developmental/cognitive abilities of 155 autistic children, assessed between ages 13-67 months and again around 1-year later to understand predictive directionality. Bidirectional, cross-domain association was apparent, albeit with stronger direction of effect from earlier cognition to later autism features (than vice versa). Exploratory sub-domain analysis showed that early non-verbal developmental/cognitive abilities (only) predicted subsequent social- and restricted/repetitive autism features, whereas early social features (only) predicted both subsequent verbal and non-verbal abilities. Although observational study design precludes causal inference, these data support contemporary notions of the developmental interconnectedness of core autism presentation and associated abilities-that behavioural autism features may influence cognitive development, but are likely also influenced by an individuals' cognitive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsie McGowan
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daniel Berends
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristelle Hudry
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
- , Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Giacomo Vivanti
- A.J.Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Catherine A Bent
- Department of Psychology Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Arnold SRC, Huang Y, Lawson LP, Higgins JM, Hwang YI(J, Richdale A, Trollor JN. Development of the Impact of Diagnosis Scale-Revised (IODS-R). Assessment 2024; 31:908-919. [PMID: 37700577 PMCID: PMC11092292 DOI: 10.1177/10731911231196486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
No tools quantify the experience, psychological, and practical impact of receiving a diagnosis from a non-deficit perspective. Autism is increasingly late diagnosed in adulthood. The Impact of Diagnosis Scale (IODS) was initially developed for borderline personality disorder. We aimed to develop a revised version suitable for autistic adults and potentially other diagnostic groups. Following a trial of a preliminary revision, the researchers and autistic research advisors co-produced an expanded pool of 46 items, scored on 7-point Likert-type scale, within 6 hypothesized domains. Scale reduction processes were applied to data from 125 formally diagnosed autistic adults. Following iterative rounds of factor analysis using maximum likelihood estimation with Promax rotation, 22 items were retained across 4 domains to comprise the IODS-R. The IODS-R adds new understanding to the experience of receiving an autism diagnosis in adulthood. It may be useful for evaluating diagnostic services and other diagnostic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R. C. Arnold
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yunhe Huang
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lauren P. Lawson
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julianne M. Higgins
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ye In (Jane) Hwang
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Amanda Richdale
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julian N. Trollor
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Co-Design of a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale: A Study Protocol. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312837. [PMID: 34886563 PMCID: PMC8657806 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a heterogeneous group of conditions with overlapping symptomatology and fluctuating developmental trajectories that transcend current diagnostic categorisation. There is a need for validated screening instruments which dimensionally assess symptomatology from a holistic, transdiagnostic perspective. The primary aim is to co-design a Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale (NAS), a user-friendly transdiagnostic assessment inventory that systematically screens for all signs and symptoms commonly encountered in neurodevelopmental disorders. Our first objective is to undertake development of this tool, utilising co-design principles in partnership with stakeholders, including both those with lived experience of neurodevelopmental disorders and service providers. Our second objective is to evaluate the face validity, as well as the perceived utility, user-friendliness, suitability, and acceptability (i.e., 'social validity'), of the NAS from the perspective of parents/caregivers and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders, clinicians, and service providers. Our third objective is to ascertain the psychometric properties of the NAS, including content validity and convergent validity. The NAS will provide an efficient transdiagnostic tool for evaluating all relevant signs, symptoms, and the dimensional constructs that underpin neurodevelopmental presentations. It is anticipated that this will maximise outcomes by enabling the delivery of personalised care tailored to an individual's unique profile in a holistic and efficient manner.
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Frigaux A, Lighezzolo-Alnot J, Maleval JC, Evrard R. Clinique différentielle du spectre de l’autisme : l’intérêt de penser un « autisme ordinaire ». EVOLUTION PSYCHIATRIQUE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evopsy.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Vuattoux D, Colomer-Lahiguera S, Fernandez PA, Jequier Gygax M, Choucair ML, Beck-Popovic M, Diezi M, Manificat S, Latifyan S, Ramelet AS, Eicher M, Chabane N, Renella R. Cancer Care of Children, Adolescents and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Key Information and Strategies for Oncology Teams. Front Oncol 2021; 10:595734. [PMID: 33552969 PMCID: PMC7856416 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.595734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Delivering optimal cancer care to children, adolescents and adults with ASD has recently become a healthcare priority and represents a major challenge for all providers involved. In this review, and after consideration of the available evidence, we concisely deliver key information on this heterogenous group of neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as recommendations and concrete tools for the enhanced oncological care of this vulnerable population of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Vuattoux
- Division of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Conditions, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Colomer-Lahiguera
- Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Alain Fernandez
- Division of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Conditions, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marine Jequier Gygax
- Division of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Conditions, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Louise Choucair
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maja Beck-Popovic
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Diezi
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Manificat
- Division of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Conditions, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sofiya Latifyan
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Sylvie Ramelet
- Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Eicher
- Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Chabane
- Division of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Conditions, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raffaele Renella
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Uljarević M, Cooper MN, Bebbington K, Glasson EJ, Maybery MT, Varcin K, Alvares GA, Wray J, Leekam SR, Whitehouse AJO. Deconstructing the repetitive behaviour phenotype in autism spectrum disorder through a large population-based analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2020; 61:1030-1042. [PMID: 32037582 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Restricted and repetitive pattern of behaviours and interests (RRB) are a cardinal feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but there remains uncertainty about how these diverse behaviours vary according to individual characteristics. This study provided the largest exploration to date of the relationship between Repetitive Motor Behaviours, Rigidity/Insistence on Sameness and Circumscribed Interests with other individual characteristics in newly diagnosed individuals with ASD. METHOD Participants (N = 3,647; 17.7% females; Mage = 6.6 years [SD = 4.7]) were part of the Western Australian (WA) Register for ASD, an independent, prospective collection of demographic and diagnostic data of newly diagnosed cases of ASD in WA. Diagnosticians rated each of the DSM-IV-TR criteria on a 4-point Likert severity scale, and here we focused on the Repetitive Motor Behaviours, Insistence on Sameness and Circumscribed Interests symptoms. RESULTS The associations between RRB domains, indexed by Kendall's Tau, were weak, ranging from non-significant for both Circumscribed Interests and Repetitive Motor Behaviours to significant (.20) for Insistence on Sameness and Repetitive Motor Behaviours. Older age at diagnosis was significantly associated with lower Circumscribed Interests and significantly associated with higher Insistence on Sameness and Repetitive Motor Behaviours. Male sex was significantly associated with higher Repetitive Motor Behaviours but not Insistence on Sameness or Circumscribed Interests. CONCLUSIONS The pattern of associations identified in this study provides suggestive evidence for the distinctiveness of Repetitive Motor Behaviours, Insistence on Sameness and Circumscribed Interests, highlighting the potential utility of RRB domains for stratifying the larger ASD population into smaller, more phenotypically homogeneous subgroups that can help to facilitate efforts to understand diverse ASD aetiology and inform design of future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Uljarević
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford Autism Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthew N Cooper
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Keely Bebbington
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Emma J Glasson
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Murray T Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kandice Varcin
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Gail A Alvares
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - John Wray
- Child Development Service, WA Department of Health, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Susan R Leekam
- Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Sonido M, Arnold S, Higgins J, Hwang YIJ. Autism in Later Life: What Is Known and What Is Needed? CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-020-00192-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Arnold SR, Huang Y, Hwang YI(J, Richdale AL, Trollor JN, Lawson LP. "The Single Most Important Thing That Has Happened to Me in My Life": Development of the Impact of Diagnosis Scale-Preliminary Revision. AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD 2020; 2:34-41. [PMID: 36600983 PMCID: PMC8992847 DOI: 10.1089/aut.2019.0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Awareness and diagnosis of autism in adulthood is on the rise. Studies have considered the impact of receiving an autism diagnosis for parents of children on the spectrum, although only few primarily qualitative studies have considered the self-reported impact of autism diagnosis. The Impact of Diagnosis Scale (IODS) was initially developed with a focus on borderline personality disorder. Our aim was to develop a version suitable for autistic individuals. Methods The research team and a group of autistic advisors revised the IODS items for suitability and accessibility to autistic participants. We gathered participant data for 92 autistic adolescents and adults from the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) Study of Australian School Leavers with Autism (SASLA) and the Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adulthood (ALSAA). We used iterated principal factors analysis to explore potential factors, and thematic analysis to explore responses to two open-ended items. Results Factor analysis suggested three factors of "Service Access (SA)," "Being Understood (BU)," and "Self-Acceptance and Understanding (SU)" for the 12 items of the IODS-Preliminary Revision (IODS-PR). Cronbach's alpha was good overall and acceptable for subdomains. Item mean scores suggest that although impact of autism diagnosis was generally perceived as positive for SU, scores were neutral in other domains. Qualitative analysis identified themes of Self-Understanding, Identity, and Acceptance, Supports and Services, Valence of Response, Relationships, and Camouflaging. Conclusions The IODS-PR is the first scale to measure the self-reported experience of receiving an autism diagnosis. It showed good psychometrics and provides new insight into the experience of autism diagnosis. Qualitative analysis identified domains that remain unexplored and the potential for an expanded item set. A further revision of the tool will soon be available. It will provide critical information for clinicians and has potential applications for research and service evaluation. Lay summary Why was this study done?: There are increasing numbers of adults who are only diagnosed with autism in their teen and adult years. Research on this topic is limited, with most using surveys or interviews.What was the purpose of this study?: The purpose was to develop a revision of the Impact of Diagnosis Scale (IODS) to make it suitable to autistic teenagers and adults.What did the researchers do?: We worked with autistic research advisors to create the IODS-Preliminary Revision (IODS-PR), which has 12 items scored on a 7-point agree/disagree scale and two open-ended questions. We then gathered data using the IODS-PR from the Study of Australian School Leavers with Autism (SASLA) and the Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adulthood (ALSAA). We ran a factor analysis on the scores and conducted a thematic analysis of the open-ended responses. One of the autistic advisors reviewed how we interpreted our results.What were the results of the study?: There were 92 autistic participants (46 males, 38 females, 8 nonbinary; mean age of 36 years old). On average, participants were diagnosed with autism at age 30. The factor analysis suggested three domains in the IOD-PR: Self-Acceptance and Understanding, Being Understood, and Service Access. On average, participants' scores suggested receiving an autism diagnosis was helpful for understanding and accepting themselves, but neutral for being understood by others or getting support from services.The thematic analysis identified several themes, the strongest theme was Self-Understanding, Identity, and Acceptance, where participants mostly commented on the positive new self-identity that came from their autism diagnosis. There was a Supports and Services theme that was divided into Enabled Support, Support not needed, and No or poor services. Most concerning was that many participants commented that the autism diagnosis did not enable any access to supports or that there were no appropriate supports available. There was a Valence of Response theme that was divided into Relief, Positive impact, Wish diagnosed earlier, and Negative impact. There was a Relationships theme divided into Connected with autistic community, Improves relationships, and Others lack understanding. Finally, there was a Camouflaging theme.Based on these results, the researchers are working on further revisions to the IODS-PR to make it more useful and accessible.What do these findings add to what was already known?: The adapted IODS shows promise and findings will guide further development of the tool. These early-stage findings agree with what previous research said about the impact of receiving a diagnosis of autism in adulthood.What are potential weaknesses in the study?: There are strengths and weaknesses to using a questionnaire tool to research this topic. Interview research can get a more in-depth understanding of an individual's response to the diagnosis.How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?: When the revised IODS is available, it could be used to evaluate support services and help clinicians understand how to help create a more positive response to diagnosis. Our findings confirm more needs to be performed about postdiagnosis supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R.C. Arnold
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Address correspondence to: Samuel R.C. Arnold, PhD, Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Yunhe Huang
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ye In (Jane) Hwang
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Amanda L. Richdale
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julian N. Trollor
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lauren P. Lawson
- The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
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Arnold S, Foley KR, Hwang YIJ, Richdale AL, Uljarevic M, Lawson LP, Cai RY, Falkmer T, Falkmer M, Lennox NG, Urbanowicz A, Trollor J. Cohort profile: the Australian Longitudinal Study of Adults with Autism (ALSAA). BMJ Open 2019; 9:e030798. [PMID: 31806608 PMCID: PMC6924702 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE: There is a significant knowledge gap regarding the lives of adults on the autism spectrum. Some literature suggests significant health and mental health inequalities for autistic adults, yet there is a lack of comprehensive longitudinal studies exploring risk factors. Further, most research does not include the perspective of autistic adults in its conduct or design. Here, we describe the baseline characteristics and inclusive research approach of a nationwide longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: The Autism Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism's Australian Longitudinal Study of Adults with Autism (ALSAA) is a questionnaire-based longitudinal study of autistic adults (25+ years old) with follow-up at 2-year intervals. Autistic advisors were involved in each stage of research apart from data analysis. Three questionnaires were developed: self-report, informant report (ie, proxy report) and carers (ie, carer experiences and characteristics). FINDINGS TO DATE: An inclusive research protocol was developed and agreed with autistic advisors. Baseline data were collected from 295 autistic adults (M=41.8 years, SD=12.0) including 42 informant responses, 146 comparison participants and 102 carers. The majority of autistic participants (90%) had been diagnosed in adulthood (M=35.3 years, SD=15.1). When compared with controls, autistic adults scored higher on self-report measures of current depression and anxiety. Participant comments informed ongoing data gathering. Participants commented on questionnaire length, difficulty with literal interpretation of forced response items and expressed gratitude for research in this area. FUTURE PLANS: A large comprehensive dataset relating to autistic adults and their carers has been gathered, creating a good platform for longitudinal follow-up repeat surveys and collaborative research. Several outputs are in development, with focus on health service barriers and usage, caregivers, impact of diagnosis in adulthood, further scale validations, longitudinal analyses of loneliness, suicidal ideation, mental illness risk factors and other areas. Baseline data confirm poorer mental health of autistic adults. The ALSAA demonstrates a working approach to inclusive research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Arnold
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kitty-Rose Foley
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, Bilinga, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ye In Jane Hwang
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda L Richdale
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mirko Uljarevic
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Stanford Autism Center, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lauren P Lawson
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ru Ying Cai
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Torbjorn Falkmer
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Marita Falkmer
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Education and Communication, CHILD Programme, Institution of Disability Research, Jonkoping University, Jonkoping, Sweden
| | - Nick G Lennox
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute - UQ, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anna Urbanowicz
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute - UQ, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Health, Society & Medicine Research Program, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julian Trollor
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Boutrus M, Gilani SZ, Alvares GA, Maybery MT, Tan DW, Mian A, Whitehouse AJO. Increased facial asymmetry in autism spectrum conditions is associated with symptom presentation. Autism Res 2019; 12:1774-1783. [PMID: 31225951 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
A key research priority in the study of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) is the discovery of biological markers that may help to identify and elucidate etiologically distinct subgroups. One physical marker that has received increasing research attention is facial structure. Although there remains little consensus in the field, findings relating to greater facial asymmetry (FA) in ASC exhibit some consistency. As there is growing recognition of the importance of replicatory studies in ASC research, the aim of this study was to investigate the replicability of increased FA in autistic children compared to nonautistic peers. Using three-dimensional photogrammetry, this study examined FA in 84 autistic children, 110 typically developing children with no family history of the condition, and 49 full siblings of autistic children. In support of previous literature, significantly greater depth-wise FA was identified in autistic children relative to the two comparison groups. As a further investigation, increased lateral FA in autistic children was found to be associated with greater severity of ASC symptoms on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition, specifically related to repetitive and restrictive behaviors. These outcomes provide an important and independent replication of increased FA in ASC, as well as a novel contribution to the field. Having confirmed the direction and areas of increased FA in ASC, these findings could motivate a search for potential underlying brain dysmorphogenesis. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1774-1783. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: This study looked at the amount of facial asymmetry (FA) in autistic children compared to typically developing children and children who have siblings with autism. The study found that autistic children, compared to the other two groups, had greater FA, and that increased FA was related to greater severity of autistic symptoms. The face and brain grow together during the earliest stages of development, and so findings of facial differences in autism might inform future studies of early brain differences associated with the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Boutrus
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Australia.,School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Syed Zulqarnain Gilani
- Computer Sciences and Software Engineering, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
| | - Gail A Alvares
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Murray T Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Diana Weiting Tan
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Ajmal Mian
- Computer Sciences and Software Engineering, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Australia
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12
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Ning Z, Williams JM, Kumari R, Baranov PV, Moore T. Opposite Expression Patterns of Spry3 and p75NTR in Cerebellar Vermis Suggest a Male-Specific Mechanism of Autism Pathogenesis. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:416. [PMID: 31275178 PMCID: PMC6591651 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a genetically complex neurobehavioral disorder with a population prevalence of more than 1%. Cerebellar abnormalities, including Purkinje cell deficits in the vermis, are consistently reported, and rodent models of cerebellar dysfunction exhibit features analogous to human autism. We previously analyzed the regulation and expression of the pseudoautosomal region 2 gene SPRY3, which is adjacent to X chromosome-linked TMLHE, a known autism susceptibility gene. SPRY3 is a regulator of branching morphogenesis and is strongly expressed in Purkinje cells. We previously showed that mouse Spry3 is not expressed in cerebellar vermis lobules VI-VII and X, regions which exhibit significant Purkinje cell loss or abnormalities in autism. However, these lobules have relatively high expression of p75NTR, which encodes a neurotrophin receptor implicated in autism. We propose a mechanism whereby inappropriate SPRY3 expression in these lobules could interact with TrkB and p75NTR signaling pathways resulting in Purkinje cell pathology. We report preliminary characterization of X and Y chromosome-linked regulatory sequences upstream of SPRY3, which are polymorphic in the general population. We suggest that an OREG-annotated region on chromosome Yq12 ∼60 kb from SPRY3 acts as a silencer of Y-linked SPRY3 expression. Deletion of a β-satellite repeat, or alterations in chromatin structure in this region due to trans-acting factors, could affect the proposed silencing function, leading to reactivation and inappropriate expression of Y-linked SPRY3. This proposed male-specific mechanism could contribute to the male bias in autism prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tom Moore
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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13
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Yao W, Huang J, He H. Over-expressed LOC101927196 suppressed oxidative stress levels and neuron cell proliferation in a rat model of autism through disrupting the Wnt signaling pathway by targeting FZD3. Cell Signal 2019; 62:109328. [PMID: 31145996 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in autism. Herein, we delineated the functions of LOC101927196 and its potential mitigation effect on a rat model of autism. We retrieved various bioinformatics databases and websites to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with autism. Next, a rat model of autism was established with the neuron cells extracted for transfection of different plasmids. The regulatory effect of LOC101927196 on neuron cell proliferation, apoptosis as well as oxidative stress was also investigated. Firstly, microarray dataset GSE18123 revealed that LOC101927196 was poorly expressed in a rat model of autism. Poor development and growth and oxidative stress disorder were also observed in a rat model of autism. In addition, LOC101927196 targeting FZD3 played a vital role in a rat model of autism through the Wnt signaling pathway. Furthermore, we further demonstrated that over-expressed LOC101927196 blocked neuron cell proliferation and reduced oxidative stress levels, while promoting apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Our findings illustrate that up-regulated LOC101927196 attenuated oxidative stress disorder in a rat model of autism through suppressing the activation of Wnt signaling pathway by targeting FZD3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanxia Yao
- Medical School of Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an 710125, PR China
| | - Junting Huang
- School of Nursing, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Hongling He
- Academic Journals Publishing Center of Education Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, PR China.
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14
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Myers SM, Voigt RG, Colligan RC, Weaver AL, Storlie CB, Stoeckel RE, Port JD, Katusic SK. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Incidence and Time Trends Over Two Decades in a Population-Based Birth Cohort. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:1455-1474. [PMID: 30519787 PMCID: PMC6594832 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3834-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We retrospectively identified autism spectrum disorder (ASD) incident cases among 31,220 individuals in a population-based birth cohort based on signs and symptoms uniformly abstracted from medical and educational records. Inclusive and narrow research definitions of ASD (ASD-RI and ASD-RN, respectively) were explored, along with clinical diagnoses of ASD (ASD-C) obtained from the records. The incidence of ASD-RI, ASD-RN, and ASD-C increased significantly from 1985 to 1998, then ASD-RI and ASD-RN plateaued while the rate of ASD-C continued to increase during 1998-2004. The rising incidence of research-defined ASD may reflect improved recognition and documentation of ASD signs and symptoms. Although the frequency of threshold ASD symptoms stabilized, the rate of ASD-C continued to increase, narrowing the gap between clinical ascertainment and symptom documentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Myers
- Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, 120 Hamm Drive Suite 2, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA.
| | - Robert G Voigt
- Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Robert C Colligan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Amy L Weaver
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Curtis B Storlie
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Ruth E Stoeckel
- Division of Speech Pathology, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - John D Port
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Slavica K Katusic
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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15
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Alvares GA, Dawson PA, Dissanayake C, Eapen V, Gratten J, Grove R, Henders A, Heussler H, Lawson L, Masi A, Raymond E, Rose F, Wallace L, Wray NR, Whitehouse AJO. Study protocol for the Australian autism biobank: an international resource to advance autism discovery research. BMC Pediatr 2018; 18:284. [PMID: 30149807 PMCID: PMC6112136 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-018-1255-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents considerable challenges in understanding etiological pathways, selecting effective therapies, providing genetic counselling, and predicting clinical outcomes. With advances in genetic and biological research alongside rapid-pace technological innovations, there is an increasing imperative to access large, representative, and diverse cohorts to advance knowledge of ASD. To date, there has not been any single collective effort towards a similar resource in Australia, which has its own unique ethnic and cultural diversity. The Australian Autism Biobank was initiated by the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) to establish a large-scale repository of biological samples and detailed clinical information about children diagnosed with ASD to facilitate future discovery research. METHODS The primary group of participants were children with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD, aged between 2 and 17 years, recruited through four sites in Australia. No exclusion criteria regarding language level, cognitive ability, or comorbid conditions were applied to ensure a representative cohort was recruited. Both biological parents and siblings were invited to participate, along with children without a diagnosis of ASD, and children who had been queried for an ASD diagnosis but did not meet diagnostic criteria. All children completed cognitive assessments, with probands and parents completing additional assessments measuring ASD symptomatology. Parents completed questionnaires about their child's medical history and early development. Physical measurements and biological samples (blood, stool, urine, and hair) were collected from children, and physical measurements and blood samples were collected from parents. Samples were sent to a central processing site and placed into long-term storage. DISCUSSION The establishment of this biobank is a valuable international resource incorporating detailed clinical and biological information that will help accelerate the pace of ASD discovery research. Recruitment into this study has also supported the feasibility of large-scale biological sample collection in children diagnosed with ASD with comprehensive phenotyping across a wide range of ages, intellectual abilities, and levels of adaptive functioning. This biological and clinical resource will be open to data access requests from national and international researchers to support future discovery research that will benefit the autistic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail A. Alvares
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA Australia
| | - Paul A. Dawson
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | - Valsamma Eapen
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
- Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry South West Sydney, Ingham Institute, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Jacob Gratten
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Rachel Grove
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Anjali Henders
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Helen Heussler
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Lauren Lawson
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | - Anne Masi
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Emma Raymond
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Wesley Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Felicity Rose
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Leanne Wallace
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Naomi R. Wray
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Andrew J. O. Whitehouse
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, QLD Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA Australia
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16
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Whitehouse AJO, Alvares GA, Cleary D, Harun A, Stojanoska A, Taylor LJ, Varcin KJ, Maybery M. Symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder is related to the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a retrospective case-control study. Mol Autism 2018; 9:37. [PMID: 29951183 PMCID: PMC6009817 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0223-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) is thought to be caused by changes in maternal hormones during pregnancy. Differences in hormone exposure during prenatal life have been implicated in the causal pathways for some cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, no study has investigated whether the presence and severity of NVP may be related to symptom severity in offspring with ASD. Methods A large sample of children with ASD (227 males and 60 females, aged 2 to 18 years) received a clinical assessment, during which parents completed questionnaires regarding their child’s social (Social Responsiveness Scale, SRS) and communication (Children’s Communication Checklist–2nd edition, CCC-2) symptoms. Parents also reported on a 5-point scale the frequency and severity of NVPs during the pregnancy of the child being assessed: (1) no NVP during the pregnancy, (2) occasional nausea, but no vomiting, (3) daily nausea, but no vomiting, (4) occasional vomiting, with or without nausea, and (5) daily nausea and vomiting. Results Impairments in social responsiveness in offspring, as indexed by SRS total score, significantly increased as a function of the frequency and severity of their mothers’ NVP, as did the level of language difficulties as indexed by the Global Communication Composite of the CCC-2. Conclusions The strong, positive association between increasing frequency and severity of NVP and ASD severity in offspring provides further evidence that exposure to an atypical hormonal environment during prenatal life may affect neurodevelopment and contribute to the ASD phenotype. Given that the measure of NVP symptoms in the current study was based on retrospective recall, replication of this finding is required before strong conclusions can be drawn. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-018-0223-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J O Whitehouse
- 1Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA 6009 Australia.,4Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, WA 6008 Australia
| | - Gail A Alvares
- 1Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA 6009 Australia
| | - Dominique Cleary
- 1Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA 6009 Australia
| | - Alexis Harun
- 1Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA 6009 Australia
| | - Angela Stojanoska
- 1Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA 6009 Australia
| | - Lauren J Taylor
- 2Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | - Kandice J Varcin
- 1Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Rd, Subiaco, WA 6009 Australia
| | - Murray Maybery
- 3School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Australia
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17
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Varcin KJ, Alvares GA, Uljarević M, Whitehouse AJO. Prenatal maternal stress events and phenotypic outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2017; 10:1866-1877. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.1830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kandice J. Varcin
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia; Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Gail A. Alvares
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia; Perth Western Australia Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC); Long Pocket Brisbane, Queensland Australia
| | - Mirko Uljarević
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC); Long Pocket Brisbane, Queensland Australia
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre; School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University; Victoria Australia
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