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Sterrett K, Clarke E, Nofer J, Piven J, Lord C. Toward a functional classification for autism in adulthood. Autism Res 2024. [PMID: 39031157 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous condition that affects development and functioning from infancy through adulthood. Efforts to parse the heterogeneity of the autism spectrum through subgroups such as Asperger's and Profound Autism have been controversial, and have consistently struggled with issues of reliability, validity, and interpretability. Nonetheless, methods for successfully identifying clinically meaningful subgroups within autism are needed to ensure that research, interventions, and services address the range of needs experienced by autistic individuals. The purpose of this study was to generate and test whether a simple set of questions, organized in a flowchart, could be used in clinical practice and research to differentiate meaningful subgroups based on individuals' level of functioning. Once generated, subgroups could also be compared to the recently proposed administrative category of Profound Autism and to groupings based on standardized adaptive measures. Ninety-seven adults with autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders participating in a longstanding longitudinal study, or their caregivers if they could not answer for themselves, completed phone interviews when the participants were ~30 years old. Information from these phone interviews was used to generate vignettes summarizing characteristics and aspects of the daily lives of each participant (e.g., language level, vocational activities, and social relationships). Three expert clinicians then used these vignettes to classify each participant based on their level of support needs. Meaningfully distinct subgroups within the sample were identified which could be reliably distinguished from one another. Implications of such categorizations and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Sterrett
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Elaine Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jane Nofer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Catherine Lord
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Mahjoob M, Cardy R, Penner M, Anagnostou E, Andrade BF, Crosbie J, Kelley E, Ayub M, Ayub M, Brian J, Iaboni A, Schachar R, Georgiades S, Nicolson R, Jones J, Kushki A. Predictors of health-related quality of life for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6377. [PMID: 38493236 PMCID: PMC10944519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56821-9] [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] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental conditions can be associated with decreased health-related quality of life; however, the predictors of these outcomes remain largely unknown. We characterized the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of neurodiverse children and youth. We used a cross-sectional subsample from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network (POND) consisting of those children and young people in the POND dataset with complete study data (total n = 615; 31% female; age: 11.28 years ± 2.84 years). Using a structural equation model, we investigated the effects of demographics (age, sex, socioeconomic status), core features (Social Communication Questionnaire, Toronto Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Strengths and Weaknesses of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-symptoms and Normal Behavior), co-occurring symptoms (Child Behaviour Checklist), and adaptive functioning (Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System) on HRQoL (KINDL). A total of 615 participants had complete data for this study (autism = 135, ADHD = 273, subthreshold ADHD = 7, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) = 38, sub-threshold OCD = 1, neurotypical = 161). Of these participants, 190 (31%) identified as female, and 425 (69%) identified as male. The mean age was 11.28 years ± 2.84 years. Health-related quality of life was negatively associated with co-occurring symptoms (B = - 0.6, SE = 0.20, CI (- 0.95, - 0.19), p = 0.004)) and age (B = - 0.1, SE = 0.04, CI (- 0.19, - 0.01), p = 0.037). Fewer co-occurring symptoms were associated with higher socioeconomic status (B = - 0.5, SE = - 0.05, CI (- 0.58, - 0.37), p < 0.001). This study used a cross-sectional design. Given that one's experiences, needs, supports, and environment and thus HrQoL may change significantly over the lifespan and a longitudinal analysis of predictors is needed to capture these changes. Future studies with more diverse participant groups are needed. These results demonstrate the importance of behavioural and sociodemographic characteristics on health-related quality of life across neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Mahjoob
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Robyn Cardy
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Melanie Penner
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Brendan F Andrade
- Department of Psychiatry, Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jennifer Crosbie
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Muhammad Ayub
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Muhammad Ayub
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Jessica Brian
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Alana Iaboni
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Russell Schachar
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Jessica Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Azadeh Kushki
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada.
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Donoso J, Rattray F, de Bildt A, Tillmann J, Williams P, Absoud M, Totsika V. Association of cognitive and adaptive skills with internalizing and externalizing problems in autistic children and adolescents. Autism Res 2024; 17:596-609. [PMID: 38031634 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3056] [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] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The presence of an intellectual disability (ID) alongside autism is considered to increase the risk for mental health and behavior problems in children and adolescents. Existing evidence is restricted by looking at ID as a categorical classification. The study aimed to examine the association of cognitive and adaptive behavior skills with internalizing and externalizing problems in a large sample of autistic children and adolescents, across a wide range of cognitive skills. Participants were 2759 children and adolescents aged between 4 and 18 years recruited as part of the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), of whom 709 (approximately 25%) had ID. Multiple regression models examined associations of internalizing and externalizing problems with cognitive and adaptive skills (communication, daily living, and socialization skills). Cognitive skills were not associated with externalizing problems but were associated with more internalizing problems in autistic children without ID (Cog β: 0.126). All adaptive skill domains were inversely associated with externalizing (Communication β: -0.145; Daily-Living β: -0.132; Socialization β: -0.289) and internalizing problems (Communication β: -0.074; Daily-Living β: -0.064; Socialization β: -0.213) in those without ID. Daily living (β: -0.158) and socialization skills (β: -0.104) were inversely correlated with externalizing problems in autistic children with ID, while only socialization problems (β: -0.099) were associated with internalizing problems in this group. Socialization skills were systematically associated with internalizing and externalizing problems across all levels of cognitive functioning. Supporting social skills development may benefit all aspects of child mental health, while recognizing that children with higher cognitive skills are more vulnerable to internalizing problems might assist with earlier identification of these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javiera Donoso
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Fiona Rattray
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Annelies de Bildt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Accare Child Study Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Julian Tillmann
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Penny Williams
- Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Absoud
- Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Vasiliki Totsika
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Millenium Institute for Care Research (MICARE), Santiago, Chile
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Clarke EB, McCauley JB, Lutz A, Gotelli M, Sheinkopf SJ, Lord C. Understanding profound autism: implications for stigma and supports. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1287096. [PMID: 38317766 PMCID: PMC10839016 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1287096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Societal perceptions and lack of understanding of autism spectrum disorder can be stigmatizing for autistic individuals and their families. This may be particularly the case for individuals who meet criteria for profound autism. Despite the considerable service needs of this marginalized group, there is little data on the prevalence of profound autism, nor on the experiences of those with profound autism and their families. Methods The current study leveraged a mixed-methods approach to address these gaps. First, the prevalence of profound autism was examined in six samples-three from the United States and three from Western Europe. Second, inductive thematic analysis was used to code interviews from 20 caregivers of profoundly autistic adults. Results The prevalence of profound autism varied widely across the six samples-from 11% to 48%. There were also notable differences between samples in prevalence by gender, race, and ethnicity. Two overarching themes were identified via inductive thematic analysis: Community Perceptions of Autism and Family Support Needs and Advocacy Challenges. Though caregivers were not directly asked about stigmatization during interviews, 85% of caregivers reported at least one instance of perceived stigma. Discussion Future research should continue to examine the unique needs and stigmatization experiences of profoundly autistic individuals and their families across the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine B. Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - James B. McCauley
- Department of Psychology, St. Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CA, United States
| | - Amy Lutz
- Department of History and Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marina Gotelli
- Fundación Brincar por un Autismo Feliz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Stephen J. Sheinkopf
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Catherine Lord
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Farmer C, Thurm A, Condy E, Duku E, Szatmari P, Bennett T, Elsabbagh M, Kerns CM, Smith IM, Vaillancourt T, Zaidman-Zait A, Zwaigenbaum L, Georgiades S. Disentangling global and domain-level adaptive behavior trajectories among children with autism spectrum disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 64:868-875. [PMID: 36562498 PMCID: PMC10369325 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterogeneity in adaptive behavior abilities among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is expressed not only as uneven levels of impairment across domains, but also in the developmental trajectories of adaptive skills. We studied the question of whether, after accounting for global adaptive behavior development, we find evidence of heterogeneity in the trajectories of specific domains of adaptive behavior. METHODS A sample of 504 children with ASD was obtained by combining data from two independent natural history studies conducted in North America. We used a factor of curves model to explain growth between 36 and 138 months in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS) age equivalents as a function of domain-specific and global growth processes. RESULTS The domain-specific trajectories in all three domains (Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization) reflected impairment relative to age expectations as well as slower-than-expected growth with age, and the parameters of these trajectories were moderately-to-strongly correlated across domains. The global adaptive behavior trajectory had an initial (36-41 months of age) developmental level of about 22 age-equivalent months, and eventually slowed after initially increasing by about 6 months each year. The global trajectory accounted for the majority of variance in the domain-level processes; however, additional variance remained (14%-38%) in the domain-level intercepts, slopes, and quadratic processes. CONCLUSIONS These results extend existing theoretical and empirical support for the hierarchical structure of adaptive behavior to include its development over time in clinical samples of children with ASD. A latent global trajectory may be sufficient to describe the growth of adaptive behavior in children with ASD; however, the remaining domain-specific variability after accounting for global adaptive behavior development allows for the possibility that differential effects of intervention on specific domains may be possible and detectable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristan Farmer
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emma Condy
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eric Duku
- McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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