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Harkins C, Mazurek MO. The Impact of Co-occurring ADHD on Social Competence Intervention Outcomes in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2552-2563. [PMID: 37142907 PMCID: PMC10624644 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05987-8] [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: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is significant and associated with a host of negative outcomes. Studies investigating social functioning in the presence of the ASD/ADHD co-occurrence have produced mixed findings. The present study further evaluated the impact of co-occurring ADHD on social functioning among youth with ASD and compared treatment response to a social competence intervention between youth with ASD and ASD + ADHD. METHODS Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were computed with diagnostic group and time as the independent variables and measures of social functioning as dependent variables. Group and Time effects and Group by Time interactions were examined. RESULTS Youth with co-occurring ADHD displayed more impairments related to social awareness, but not in other social areas. Participants in both the ASD and ASD + ADHD groups demonstrated significant improvement following a social competence intervention. CONCLUSION Co-occurring ADHD did not negatively affect treatment response. Youth with ASD + ADHD may benefit highly structured interventions with a scaffolded teaching design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Harkins
- Department of Human Services, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Micah O Mazurek
- Department of Human Services, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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2
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Kata A, McPhee PG, Chen YJ, Zwaigenbaum L, Singal D, Roncadin C, Bennett T, Carter M, Di Rezze B, Drmic I, Duku E, Fournier S, Frei J, Gentles SJ, Georgiades K, Hanlon-Dearman A, Hoult L, Kelley E, Koller J, de Camargo OK, Lai J, Mahoney B, Mesterman R, Ng O, Robertson S, Rosenbaum P, Salt M, Zubairi MS, Georgiades S. The Pediatric Autism Research Cohort (PARC) Study: protocol for a patient-oriented prospective study examining trajectories of functioning in children with autism. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e083045. [PMID: 38684247 PMCID: PMC11086431 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The developmentally variable nature of autism poses challenges in providing timely services tailored to a child's needs. Despite a recent focus on longitudinal research, priority-setting initiatives with stakeholders highlighted the importance of studying a child's day-to-day functioning and social determinants of health to inform clinical care. To address this, we are conducting a pragmatic multi-site, patient-oriented longitudinal investigation: the Pediatric Autism Research Cohort (PARC) Study. In young children (<7 years of age) newly diagnosed with autism, we will: (1) examine variability in trajectories of adaptive functioning from the point of diagnosis into transition to school; and (2) identify factors associated with trajectories of adaptive functioning. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We aim to recruit 1300 children under 7 years of age with a recent (within 12 months) diagnosis of autism from seven sites: six in Canada; one in Israel. Participants will be followed prospectively from diagnosis to age 8 years, with assessments at 6-month intervals. Parents/caregivers will complete questionnaires administered via a customized online research portal. Following each assessment timepoint, families will receive a research summary report describing their child's progress on adaptive functioning and related domains. Analysis of the longitudinal data will map trajectories and examine child, family and service characteristics associated with chronogeneity (interindividual and intraindividual heterogeneity over time) and possible trajectory turning points around sensitive periods like the transition to school. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approvals have been received by all sites. All parents/respondents will provide informed consent when enrolling in the study. Using an integrated knowledge translation approach, where stakeholders are directly engaged in the research process, the PARC Study will identify factors associated with trajectories of functioning in children with autism. Resulting evidence will be shared with government policy makers to inform provincial and national programs. Findings will be disseminated at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kata
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick G McPhee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yun-Ju Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deepa Singal
- Autism Alliance of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline Roncadin
- McMaster Children's Hospital Autism Program, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Teresa Bennett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa Carter
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Briano Di Rezze
- School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Irene Drmic
- McMaster Children's Hospital Autism Program, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Duku
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Julia Frei
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen J Gentles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathy Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ana Hanlon-Dearman
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Elizabeth Kelley
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Judah Koller
- Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Olaf Kraus de Camargo
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan Lai
- Autism Alliance of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bill Mahoney
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ronit Mesterman
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Olivia Ng
- McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sue Robertson
- McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Rosenbaum
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mackenzie Salt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Autism Alliance of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad S Zubairi
- McMaster Children's Hospital Autism Program, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Brunt S, Nevill R, Mazurek MO. Associations Among Autism Symptom Domains and Facets of Caregiver Strain. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:1507-1516. [PMID: 36637596 PMCID: PMC10931534 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05885-5] [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: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience elevated levels of caregiver strain (CGS). Few studies have examined the relationship between core ASD symptoms and each facet of CGS: objective, subjective internalized, and subjective externalized strain. The predictive effect of core and associated features of ASD on CGS facets were investigated, while also exploring the moderating effect of age. Atypical behaviors and behavior problems were the strongest predictors of all types of caregiver strain. For younger children, more repetitive behaviors predicted higher externalized strain, yet the opposite was true for parents of adolescents. Given that caregiver strain impacts parents' service utilization patterns, future research should focus on strategies to support parents in reducing caregiver strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Brunt
- University of Virginia, 417 Emmet St. South, 22903, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Rose Nevill
- University of Virginia, 417 Emmet St. South, 22903, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Micah O Mazurek
- University of Virginia, 417 Emmet St. South, 22903, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Silkey M, Durán-Pacheco G, Johnson M, Liu C, Clinch S, Law K, Loss G. The Autism Impact Measure (AIM): Meaningful Change Thresholds and Core Symptom Changes Over One Year from an Online Survey in the U.S. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:3422-3434. [PMID: 35788854 PMCID: PMC10465376 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05635-7] [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: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Validated outcome measures with the capacity to reflect meaningful change are key to assessing potential interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We derive clinically meaningful change thresholds (MCTs) of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) and identify factors associated with meaningful change. Baseline and 12-months follow-up survey of caregivers of 2,761 children with ASD aged 3-17 years from the U.S. Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) cohort were analyzed. Using caregiver-reported anchors for change, the 12-month change in estimated AIM MCT (95% confidence interval) for symptom improvement was -4.5 (-7.61, -1.37) points and 9.9 (5.12, 14.59) points for symptom deterioration. These anchor-based MCTs will facilitate future assessments of caregiver-reported change in AIM scores.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michelle Johnson
- Roche Products Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, UK.
- Hexagon Place, 6 Falcon Way, Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1TW, UK.
| | - Chuang Liu
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Kiely Law
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Georg Loss
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
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5
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Durán-Pacheco G, Silkey M, Johnson M, Liu C, Clinch S, Law K, Loss G. Effect of Children's Autism Spectrum Disorder Severity on Family Strain and Sleep Quality: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey in the U.S. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:1795-1808. [PMID: 35118575 PMCID: PMC10123033 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05457-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To better understand the impact of children's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) severity on families, we evaluated pathways through which ASD severity affected child sleep quality, caregiver strain, and caregiver sleep quality. In a cross-sectional analysis through the U.S.-wide Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) cohort. Participants were caregivers of dependents with ASD aged 3-17 years (N = 3150). We found that increased severity strongly affects caregiver strain and child sleep quality. Child sleep quality was a minor mediator of increasing caregiver strain. Caregiver sleep quality depended on ASD severity only through child sleep quality and caregiver strain. Interventions aimed at improving child sleep quality or reducing caregiver strain could positively impact families of children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michelle Johnson
- Roche Products Ltd., Hexagon Place, 6 Falcon Way, Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1TW, UK.
| | - Chuang Liu
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Clinch
- Roche Products Ltd., Hexagon Place, 6 Falcon Way, Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1TW, UK
| | - Kiely Law
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Georg Loss
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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6
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Zhong NH, Grimm RP, Kanne SM, Mazurek MO. Measurement invariance of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) across sex in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2023; 16:154-163. [PMID: 36341720 PMCID: PMC10099563 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Measurement invariance, or the degree to which an instrument measures constructs consistently across subgroups, is critical for appropriate interpretations of measures. Given sex differences in the phenotypic and clinical presentation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is particularly important to examine measurement invariance in autism instruments to ensure that ASD measures are not biased toward the more common male ASD phenotype. This study represents an important preliminary investigation evaluating the measurement equivalence of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) across children and adolescents with ASD. The results indicated that the AIM demonstrated measurement invariance at the configural, metric, and scalar levels across sex in all five domains, including Repetitive Behavior, Communication, Atypical Behavior, Social Reciprocity, and Peer Interaction. These results suggest that ASD core symptoms assessed by the AIM were similar among male and female groups. In addition, the latent means for all five factors were not statistically significantly different across sex groups, revealing no systematic differences on any of the AIM subscales for males and females. Overall, this study showed that the AIM detects core ASD symptoms across all five areas equivalently in males and females and is not biased toward males with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole H Zhong
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Stephen M Kanne
- Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA
| | - Micah O Mazurek
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Christopher K, Lord C. Best practice assessments for autism spectrum disorders in schools. PSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pits.22680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kourtney Christopher
- Departments of Psychiatry and School of Education University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Catherine Lord
- Departments of Psychiatry and School of Education University of California Los Angeles California USA
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8
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Brief Report: Replication of the Five-Factor Structure of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) in an Independent Sample. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 53:2161-2165. [PMID: 34626286 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05303-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The Autism Impact Measure is a caregiver-reported, behaviorally based measure designed to assess both frequency and functional impact of core ASD symptoms in children. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to determine if the factor structure of the AIM (Repetitive Behavior, Communication, Atypical Behavior, Social Reciprocity, and Peer Interaction), previously reported by Mazurek et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50: 2307-2319, 2020), was supported in a large (n = 611), independent sample. The sample was diverse in age (2-16 years) and IQ (M = 76.6, SD = 22.7), but was composed of approximately 80% males. There were some nuanced differences between this study and Mazurek et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50: 2307-2319, 2020), but findings generally provided further evidence supporting the psychometric properties of the AIM.
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McCracken JT, Anagnostou E, Arango C, Dawson G, Farchione T, Mantua V, McPartland J, Murphy D, Pandina G, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Drug development for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Progress, challenges, and future directions. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 48:3-31. [PMID: 34158222 PMCID: PMC10062405 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In 2017, facing lack of progress and failures encountered in targeted drug development for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental disorders, the ISCTM with the ECNP created the ASD Working Group charged to identify barriers to progress and recommending research strategies for the field to gain traction. Working Group international academic, regulatory and industry representatives held multiple in-person meetings, teleconferences, and subgroup communications to gather a wide range of perspectives on lessons learned from extant studies, current challenges, and paths for fundamental advances in ASD therapeutics. This overview delineates the barriers identified, and outlines major goals for next generation biomedical intervention development in ASD. Current challenges for ASD research are many: heterogeneity, lack of validated biomarkers, need for improved endpoints, prioritizing molecular targets, comorbidities, and more. The Working Group emphasized cautious but unwavering optimism for therapeutic progress for ASD core features given advances in the basic neuroscience of ASD and related disorders. Leveraging genetic data, intermediate phenotypes, digital phenotyping, big database discovery, refined endpoints, and earlier intervention, the prospects for breakthrough treatments are substantial. Recommendations include new priorities for expanded research funding to overcome challenges in translational clinical ASD therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T McCracken
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States.
| | | | - Celso Arango
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Univesitario Gregorio Maranon, and School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Geraldine Dawson
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Tiffany Farchione
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Valentina Mantua
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | | | - Declan Murphy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Gahan Pandina
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, Pennington, New Jersey, United States
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Pandina G, Ring RH, Bangerter A, Ness S. Current Approaches to the Pharmacologic Treatment of Core Symptoms Across the Lifespan of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2020; 43:629-645. [PMID: 33126999 DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There are no approved medications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core symptoms. However, given the significant clinical need, children and adults with ASD are prescribed medication off label for core or associated conditions, sometimes based on limited evidence for effectiveness. Recent developments in the understanding of biologic basis of ASD have led to novel targets with potential to impact core symptoms, and several clinical trials are underway. Heterogeneity in course of development, co-occurring conditions, and age-related treatment response variability hampers study outcomes. Novel measures and approaches to ASD clinical trial design will help in development of effective pharmacologic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gahan Pandina
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA.
| | | | - Abigail Bangerter
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
| | - Seth Ness
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
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Mazurek MO, Carlson C, Baker-Ericzén M, Butter E, Norris M, Barr C, Kanne S. The Autism Impact Measure (AIM): Examination of Sensitivity to Change. Autism Res 2020; 13:1867-1879. [PMID: 33001561 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Autism Impact Measure (AIM) was designed specifically for treatment-outcome assessment in children with ASD, focusing on treatment-relevant aspects of symptom presentation and efficient detection of short-term improvement. The AIM demonstrated strong reliability and validity in initial psychometric studies. The current study evaluated the AIM's sensitivity to change across well-established treatments. The sample included 471 children with ASD (ages 2-14) participating in one of six treatments. The AIM was administered at baseline and 6-week intervals and a battery of domain-specific concurrent measures was also administered. A longitudinal repeated measures design examined the degree to which: (a) AIM domain scores changed over time in response to treatment and (b) change in AIM domains was associated with change in measures of similar constructs. Results across growth curve models indicated that AIM domains are sensitive to change in symptoms across treatment. Across all models, symptoms decreased over time, with some deceleration in rate of improvement. For all AIM domains except Repetitive Behavior, symptoms improved as a function of treatment group. Correlations of change between AIM and other measures varied across domains (from 0.01-0.43 across measures). This was the first large-scale study to systematically evaluate sensitivity to change in a measure of core ASD symptoms. The results provide support for the AIM's ability to detect short-term improvement across symptom domains and indicate that AIM domains are sensitive to change overall and as a function of different treatment conditions. The brief repeated assessment window also highlights the AIM's utility for detecting improvements across short-term treatments. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1867-1879. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC LAY SUMMARY: Good measures are important for assessing outcomes in children with autism. However, there are few tools for tracking short-term changes in autism symptoms. This study tested a new measure, the Autism Impact Measure (AIM), in a large group of children with autism. The results showed that the AIM appears to be a valid and accurate tool for measuring autism symptoms. The AIM may be a helpful tool for researchers and clinicians interested in tracking short-term improvements in autism symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah O Mazurek
- Department of Human Services, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Coleen Carlson
- Department of Psychology, Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mary Baker-Ericzén
- Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Autism Discovery Institute, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Eric Butter
- Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Megan Norris
- Child Development Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher Barr
- Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Stephen Kanne
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
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Pandina G, Ring RH, Bangerter A, Ness S. Current Approaches to the Pharmacologic Treatment of Core Symptoms Across the Lifespan of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2020; 29:301-317. [PMID: 32169264 DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There are no approved medications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core symptoms. However, given the significant clinical need, children and adults with ASD are prescribed medication off label for core or associated conditions, sometimes based on limited evidence for effectiveness. Recent developments in the understanding of biologic basis of ASD have led to novel targets with potential to impact core symptoms, and several clinical trials are underway. Heterogeneity in course of development, co-occurring conditions, and age-related treatment response variability hampers study outcomes. Novel measures and approaches to ASD clinical trial design will help in development of effective pharmacologic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gahan Pandina
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA.
| | | | - Abigail Bangerter
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
| | - Seth Ness
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1125 Trenton Harbouron Road, Titusville, NJ 08560, USA
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