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Yang R, Zheng H, Cao X, Mo D, Li M, Liu W, Zhong H. Characteristics of attentional bias in adolescents with major depressive disorders: differentiating the impact of anxious distress specifier. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1352971. [PMID: 38563026 PMCID: PMC10983793 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1352971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background No consistent conclusion has been reached regarding the attentional bias characteristics of adolescents with major depressive disorders (MDD), and unexamined co-occurring anxiety distress may contribute to this inconsistency. Methods We enrolled 50 MDD adolescents with anxiety distress, 47 MDD adolescents without anxiety distress and 48 healthy adolescents. We measured attentional bias using a point-probe paradigm during a negative-neutral emotional face task. Reaction time, correct response rate and attentional bias value were measured. Results MDD adolescents did not show a negative attentional bias; MDD adolescents with anxiety distress exhibited longer reaction time for negative and neutral stimuli, lower correct response rate for negative stimuli. Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores were positively correlated with reaction time, negatively correlated with correct response rate, and not significantly correlated with attentional bias value. Limitations The cross-sectional design hinders causal attribution, and positive emotional faces were not included in our paradigm. Conclusion Negative attentional bias is not a stable cognitive trait in adolescents with MDD, and avoidance or difficulty in disengaging attention from negative emotional stimuli may be the attentional bias characteristic of MDD adolescents with anxiety distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Yang
- Department of Child and Adolescents, Hefei Fourth People’s Hospital, Hefei, China
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hongyu Zheng
- Department of Child and Adolescents, Hefei Fourth People’s Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaomei Cao
- Department of Child and Adolescents, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Daming Mo
- Department of Child and Adolescents, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Mengting Li
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenyuan Liu
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- Department of Child and Adolescents, Hefei Fourth People’s Hospital, Hefei, China
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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2
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Duque A, Picado G, Salgado G, Salgado A, Palacios B, Chaves C. Validation of the Edited Tromsø Infant Faces Database (E-TIF): A study on differences in the processing of children's emotional expressions. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:2507-2518. [PMID: 37369938 PMCID: PMC10991014 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02163-9] [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: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Images of emotional facial expressions are often used in emotion research, which has promoted the development of different databases. However, most of these standardized sets of images do not include images from infants under 2 years of age, which is relevant for psychology research, especially for perinatal psychology. The present study aims to validate the edited version of the Tromsø Infant Faces Database (E-TIF) in a large sample of participants. The original set of 119 pictures was edited. The pictures were cropped to remove nonrelevant information, fitted in an oval window, and converted to grayscale. Four hundred and eighty participants (72.9% women) took part in the study, rating the images on five dimensions: depicted emotion, clarity, intensity, valence, and genuineness. Valence scores were useful for discriminating between positive, negative, and neutral facial expressions. Results revealed that women were more accurate at recognizing emotions in children. Regarding parental status, parents, in comparison with nonparents, rated neutral expressions as more intense and genuine. They also rated sad, angry, disgusted, and fearful faces as less negative, and happy expressions as less positive. The editing and validation of the E-TIF database offers a useful tool for basic and experimental research in psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Duque
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Picado
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Gloria Salgado
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas s/n, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Alfonso Salgado
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Beatriz Palacios
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Covadonga Chaves
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas s/n, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
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3
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Tirkkonen SK, Vespermann D. Incels, autism, and hopelessness: affective incorporation of online interaction as a challenge for phenomenological psychopathology. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1235929. [PMID: 38125854 PMCID: PMC10732311 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1235929] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research has drawn attention to the prevalence of self-reported autism within online communities of involuntary celibates (incels). These studies suggest that some individuals with autism may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of incel forums and the hopelessness they generate. However, a more precise description of the experiential connection between inceldom, self-reported autism, and hopelessness has remained unarticulated. Therefore, this article combines empirical studies on the incel community with phenomenological and embodiment approaches to autism, hopelessness, and online affectivity. We analyze three interrelated aspects of online interactions in incel communities - worldview, bodily self-relation, and mutual dismissals - and examine how these elements contribute to the consolidation of the loss of significant life possibilities. By investigating the potential negative influence of specific online environments on affective dispositions, our approach contributes to the debate on current challenges to "situate" phenomenological psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna K. Tirkkonen
- Practical Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daniel Vespermann
- Section of Phenomenological Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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4
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Rivera RA, Bennetto L. Applications of identity-based theories to understand the impact of stigma and camouflaging on mental health outcomes for autistic people. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1243657. [PMID: 37743980 PMCID: PMC10511883 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1243657] [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] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Autistic people have long been conceptualized from a deficit-based model of disability, but recent self-advocates and scholars have asserted the importance of recognizing autism as both a disability and an important part of a person's social identity. The autistic identity is subject to specific stigma and stressors beyond everyday discrimination and prejudice, which can have many downstream implications on mental health and well-being. Prior research on camouflaging has explained both quantitatively and qualitatively how autistic people conform to norms and mask their autistic traits to better fit in with non-autistic societal standards. Given this paradigm shift in understanding autistic peoples' lived experiences, researchers must also begin to reshape the theories guiding their work in order to improve diagnosis, intervention, and supports. This review examines the extant research on identity-related stigma and camouflaging and their subsequent impacts on mental health outcomes in autism. A model is proposed integrating identity-based theories-specifically the social model of disability, social identity theory, and minority stress model-to explain relationships across research areas and better explain the experiences of autistic people. We discuss how identity-based theories can be applied in autism research to better understand the impacts of stigma and camouflaging on autistic peoples' lived experiences and reduce disparities in their mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Rivera
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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5
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Flechsenhar A, Kanske P, Krach S, Korn C, Bertsch K. The (un)learning of social functions and its significance for mental health. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 98:102204. [PMID: 36216722 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions are dynamic, context-dependent, and reciprocal events that influence prospective strategies and require constant practice and adaptation. This complexity of social interactions creates several research challenges. We propose a new framework encouraging future research to investigate not only individual differences in capacities relevant for social functioning and their underlying mechanisms, but also the flexibility to adapt or update one's social abilities. We suggest three key capacities relevant for social functioning: (1) social perception, (2) sharing emotions or empathizing, and (3) mentalizing. We elaborate on how adaptations in these capacities may be investigated on behavioral and neural levels. Research on these flexible adaptations of one's social behavior is needed to specify how humans actually "learn to be social". Learning to adapt implies plasticity of the relevant brain networks involved in the underlying social processes, indicating that social abilities are malleable for different contexts. To quantify such measures, researchers need to find ways to investigate learning through dynamic changes in adaptable social paradigms and examine several factors influencing social functioning within the three aformentioned social key capacities. This framework furthers insight concerning individual differences, provides a holistic approach to social functioning, and may improve interventions for ameliorating social abilities in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleya Flechsenhar
- Department Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Sören Krach
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christoph Korn
- Section Social Neuroscience, Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany; NeuroImaging Core Unit Munich (NICUM), University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany; Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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6
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Mahony C, O'Ryan C. A molecular framework for autistic experiences: Mitochondrial allostatic load as a mediator between autism and psychopathology. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:985713. [PMID: 36506457 PMCID: PMC9732262 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.985713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular autism research is evolving toward a biopsychosocial framework that is more informed by autistic experiences. In this context, research aims are moving away from correcting external autistic behaviors and toward alleviating internal distress. Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) are associated with high rates of depression, suicidality and other comorbid psychopathologies, but this relationship is poorly understood. Here, we integrate emerging characterizations of internal autistic experiences within a molecular framework to yield insight into the prevalence of psychopathology in ASC. We demonstrate that descriptions of social camouflaging and autistic burnout resonate closely with the accepted definitions for early life stress (ELS) and chronic adolescent stress (CAS). We propose that social camouflaging could be considered a distinct form of CAS that contributes to allostatic overload, culminating in a pathophysiological state that is experienced as autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is thought to contribute to psychopathology via psychological and physiological mechanisms, but these remain largely unexplored by molecular researchers. Building on converging fields in molecular neuroscience, we discuss the substantial evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction in ASC to propose a novel role for mitochondrial allostatic load in the relationship between autism and psychopathology. An interplay between mitochondrial, neuroimmune and neuroendocrine signaling is increasingly implicated in stress-related psychopathologies, and these molecular players are also associated with neurodevelopmental, neurophysiological and neurochemical aspects of ASC. Together, this suggests an increased exposure and underlying molecular susceptibility to ELS that increases the risk of psychopathology in ASC. This article describes an integrative framework shaped by autistic experiences that highlights novel avenues for molecular research into mechanisms that directly affect the quality of life and wellbeing of autistic individuals. Moreover, this framework emphasizes the need for increased access to diagnoses, accommodations, and resources to improve mental health outcomes in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colleen O'Ryan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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7
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Schwartzman JM, Williams ZJ, Richards JK, Mattheiss SR, Gotham KO. Neuroticism Drives Associations Between Repetitive Behaviors and Depression in Autistic Adults. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:803361. [PMID: 35308873 PMCID: PMC8924483 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.803361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is more prevalent among autistic adults than neurotypical adults, yet risk factors are incompletely understood in this population. Some research groups have focused on relationships between negative repetitive thinking and depression in the autistic population, which may explain elevated prevalence rates in line with general population findings on rumination and internalizing disorders. Little is known about associations between depression and more prototypical repetitive cognitions and/or behaviors characteristic of autism (i.e., insistence on sameness [IS] and repetitive sensorimotor [RSM] behaviors). Therefore, the present study aimed to examine associations between IS, RSM behaviors, and depressive symptoms in 762 autistic adults, and whether observed effects are confounded by additional factors (e.g., demographic factors, trait neuroticism). To test if greater IS scores were associated with greater depressive symptoms on the BDI-II, a Bayesian linear regression was conducted with BDI-II scores (dependent variable) regressed on age, gender, educational level, RSM scores, and IS scores (independent variables). To test the effects of neuroticism on observed relationships, a second regression was conducted that included all predictors from the baseline model and neuroticism. Standardized regression coefficients were tested against an interval null hypothesis of [-0.1, 0.1] to assess for practical significance. Results indicated that IS exhibited a moderate positive relationship with depressive symptoms, while RSM behaviors provided only a slight increase in predictive ability. However in the second model, neuroticism exhibited a strong positive relationship with depressive symptoms, completely attenuating the effect of IS. Associations between RSM behaviors and depressive symptoms did not meet our criteria for practical significance, particularly when neuroticism was added to the model. Neither RSM nor IS moderated the effect of neuroticism on depression. The findings from this study add to the literature on risk factors in the pathway to depression in autism, and suggest opportunities for clinical translation to screening and intervention efforts. Screening for IS in autistic individuals is a common diagnostic practice in clinical and research settings that may be leveraged to also identify those at higher risk for depression, and increasing flexibility in daily life may promote emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Schwartzman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Zachary J Williams
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States.,Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States.,Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jared K Richards
- Department of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | | | - Katherine O Gotham
- Department of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
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8
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Williams ZJ, McKenney EE, Gotham KO. Investigating the structure of trait rumination in autistic adults: A network analysis. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:2048-2063. [PMID: 34058847 PMCID: PMC8419022 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211012855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autistic adults are substantially more likely to develop depression than individuals in the general population, and recent research has indicated that certain differences in thinking styles associated with autism may play a role in this association. Rumination, the act of thinking about the same thing over and over without a functional outcome, is a significant risk factor for depression in both autistic and non-autistic adults. However, little is known about how different kinds of rumination relate to each other and to depressive symptoms in the autistic population specifically. To fill this gap in knowledge, we recruited a large online sample of autistic adults, who completed questionnaire measures of both the tendency to ruminate and symptoms of depression. By examining the interacting network of rumination and depression symptoms, this study was able to identify particular aspects of rumination-such as thinking repetitively about one's guilty feelings or criticizing oneself-that may be particularly important in maintaining these harmful thought patterns in autistic adults. Although further study is needed, it is possible that the symptoms identified as most "influential" in the network may be particularly good targets for future interventions for mood and anxiety disorders in the autistic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J. Williams
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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9
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Hedley D, Uljarević M, Cai RY, Bury SM, Stokes MA, Evans DW. Domains of the autism phenotype, cognitive control, and rumination as transdiagnostic predictors of DSM-5 suicide risk. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245562. [PMID: 33482664 PMCID: PMC7822649 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide is a global health problem affecting both normative and clinical populations. Theoretical models that examine mechanisms underlying suicide risk across heterogeneous samples are needed. The present study explored core characteristics associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a sub-population at high risk of suicide, as well as two dimensional cognitive constructs, as potential transdiagnostic predictors of suicidal ideation in a clinically diverse sample. Participants (n = 1851, 62% female) aged 18 to 89 years completed online questionnaires assessing: social communication difficulties; insistence on sameness; cognitive control; and rumination. Forty-three percent of participants reported the presence of at least one neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric disorder. One third of the sample reported some suicidal ideation (SI), and 40 percent met the threshold for concern for depression. All hypothesized constructs were associated with SI and depression and, with the exception of rumination, contributed significantly to SI. Participants reporting SI returned significantly higher social communication difficulties and insistence on sameness, and lower levels of cognitive control than those reporting no-SI. The study was limited by the use of a cross-sectional sample assessed with self-report measures. All diagnoses were self-reported and the study was additionally limited by the use of a single item indicator of suicidal ideation. These findings support a role for constructs associated with the ASD phenotype and associated broad cognitive domains as potential risk factors underlying suicidal ideation in a large clinically diverse sample. Our findings suggest directions for future longitudinal research studies, along with specific targets for suicide prevention and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Hedley
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mirko Uljarević
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Stanford Autism Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ru Ying Cai
- Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon M. Bury
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark A. Stokes
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David W. Evans
- Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Jiang M, Francis SM, Tseng A, Srishyla D, DuBois M, Beard K, Conelea C, Zhao Q, Jacob S. Predicting Core Characteristics of ASD Through Facial Emotion Recognition and Eye Tracking in Youth. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:871-875. [PMID: 33018123 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9176843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with a high rate of comorbidity. The implementation of eye-tracking methodologies has informed behavioral and neurophysiological patterns of visual processing across ASD and comorbid NDDs. In this study, we propose a machine learning method to predict measures of two core ASD characteristics: impaired social interactions and communication, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviors and interests. Our method extracts behavioral features from task performance and eye-tracking data collected during a facial emotion recognition paradigm. We achieved high regression accuracy using a Random Forest regressor trained to predict scores on the SRS-2 and RBS-R assessments; this approach may serve as a classifier for ASD diagnosis.
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11
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McDermott CR, Farmer C, Gotham KO, Bal VH. Measurement of subcategories of repetitive behaviors in autistic adolescents and adults. AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD 2020; 2:48-60. [PMID: 32766532 DOI: 10.1089/aut.2019.0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Background Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are core features of autism. Factor-analytic studies comprised primarily of children have provided evidence for two domains of RRBs: Repetitive Sensory Motor (RSM) and Insistence on Sameness (IS) behaviors. The present study explores the validity of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) for assessing these RRB subtypes in autistic adolescents and adults. Methods The sample included 293 participants (Mage=19.89, SD=4.88 years) whose RRBs were assessed via ADI-R or RBS-R Caregiver-report or RBS-R Self-Report. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the validity of the two-factor structure for each instrument. Cronbach's alpha was computed to assess subscale reliability. Correlations were examined between instrument subscales, NVIQ and age. Results Exploratory correlations were modest and provided weak evidence in favor of the utility of a CFA for the ADI-R. The RBS-R Caregiver and Self-Report CFA and internal consistencies supported the two-factor RSM and IS model tested. Consistent with previous literature, NVIQ was negatively correlated with the RBS-R Caregiver RSM subscale, but not meaningfully associated with IS. Neither RBS-R Self-Report subscale were meaningfully correlated with NVIQ. Across instruments, RSM subscales were correlated, but associations between IS were minimal. Conclusions The present study provides initial support for the use of the RBS-R Caregiver and Self-Report to measure dimensions of RSM and IS behaviors in autistic adolescents and adults. The present data did not support the use of the ADI-R to assess these RRB subtypes in older individuals. Conclusions must be interpreted cautiously in light of the present study's sample limitations. Additional research is needed to understand differences in caregiver and self-reported RRBs. Further research on RRBs in autistic adolescents and adults, particularly in samples of greater gender and racial/ethnic diversity, is critical to inform community understanding and knowledge of autism in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R McDermott
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Cristan Farmer
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Vanessa H Bal
- Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology; Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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12
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Weiner L, Flin A, Causin JB, Weibel S, Bertschy G. A case study of suicidality presenting as a restricted interest in autism Spectrum disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2019; 19:126. [PMID: 31029170 PMCID: PMC6487006 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-019-2122-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicidality has been under-researched in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Most studies have linked increased suicidality in ASD to psychiatric comorbidities such as depression. Here we investigated, from a neuropsychological and clinical standpoint, the relationship between core ASD symptoms, i.e., restricted behaviors and social and communication impairments, and the suicidal behaviors in an adult male individual with ASD, with no psychiatric comorbidities. CASE PRESENTATION We report the case of a 21-year-old male with ASD who attempted suicide twice, in the absence of other psychiatric diagnoses. His behavior and communication skills were rigid. His suicidality was characterized by a rigid, detailed, and pervasive thinking pattern, akin to restricted interests. Consistently, from a neuropsychological standpoint, we found below-average planning and attention skills, and mind-reading skills were rigid and lacked spontaneity. CONCLUSIONS Our case-study suggests that specific clinical and neuropsychological dimensions might be related to suicidal behaviors in ASD. Clinically, the repetitive and rigid suicide-oriented thinking of our patient was not part of a depressive episode. Instead, it followed a purely logical, inflexible, and pervasive reasoning pattern focused on a topic that fascinated him - i.e., suicide --, akin to restricted behaviors. From a neuropsychological standpoint, restrictive suicide-oriented thinking in our patient seems to be related to attention and executive anomalies that have been linked to repetitive and restricted behaviors in ASD. New tools need to be developed to assess persistent suicidal thoughts in this population, as they might be related to intrinsic features of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Weiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry, 1 place de l’hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Amandine Flin
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry, 1 place de l’hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Causin
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry, 1 place de l’hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sébastien Weibel
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry, 1 place de l’hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Gilles Bertschy
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry, 1 place de l’hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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Grossheinrich N, Firk C, Schulte-Rüther M, von Leupoldt A, Konrad K, Huestegge L. Looking While Unhappy: A Mood-Congruent Attention Bias Toward Sad Adult Faces in Children. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2577. [PMID: 30618993 PMCID: PMC6312126 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A negative mood-congruent attention bias has been consistently observed, for example, in clinical studies on major depression. This bias is assumed to be dysfunctional in that it supports maintaining a sad mood, whereas a potentially adaptive role has largely been neglected. Previous experiments involving sad mood induction techniques found a negative mood-congruent attention bias specifically for young individuals, explained by an adaptive need for information transfer in the service of mood regulation. In the present study we investigated the attentional bias in typically developing children (aged 6–12 years) when happy and sad moods were induced. Crucially, we manipulated the age (adult vs. child) of the displayed pairs of facial expressions depicting sadness, anger, fear and happiness. The results indicate that sad children indeed exhibited a mood specific attention bias toward sad facial expressions. Additionally, this bias was more pronounced for adult faces. Results are discussed in the context of an information gain which should be stronger when looking at adult faces due to their more expansive life experience. These findings bear implications for both research methods and future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Grossheinrich
- Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Neurophysiological Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Social Sciences, Institute of Health Research and Social Psychiatry, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine - Westphalia, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christine Firk
- Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Schulte-Rüther
- Translational Brain Medicine in Psychiatry and Neurology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain Translational Medicine, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Kerstin Konrad
- Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-Brain Institute II Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Lynn Huestegge
- Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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White SW, Simmons GL, Gotham KO, Conner CM, Smith IC, Beck KB, Mazefsky CA. Psychosocial Treatments Targeting Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Review of the Latest Research and Recommended Future Directions. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2018; 20:82. [PMID: 30155584 PMCID: PMC6421847 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0949-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This synthesis of treatment research related to anxiety and depression in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) focuses on the scientific support for various forms of psychosocial interventions, useful adaptations to standard interventions, and engagement of candidate therapeutic mechanisms. RECENT FINDINGS There is considerable evidence for the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat co-occurring problems with anxiety, but there has been relatively little research on treatment of co-occurring depression. Multiple mechanisms of treatment effect have been proposed, but there has been little demonstration of target engagement via experimental therapeutics. Comorbidity between ASD and anxiety and/or mood problems is common. Although there is evidence for the use of CBT for anxiety, little work has addressed how to effectively treat depression. There is emerging support for alternative treatment approaches, such as mindfulness-based interventions. We encourage rigorous, collaborative approaches to identify and manipulate putative mechanisms of change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan W White
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0348, USA.
| | - Grace Lee Simmons
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0348, USA
| | - Katherine O Gotham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Caitlin M Conner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Isaac C Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0348, USA
| | - Kelly B Beck
- Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carla A Mazefsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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