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Øverland E, Hauge ÅL, Orm S, Øie MG, Skogli EW, Pellicano E, Andersen PN. "I have to charge my social battery": Perspectives from autistic young adults on Quality of Life. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:1369-1381. [PMID: 38629698 DOI: 10.1177/13623613241245578] [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] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT In this study we have asked a group of autistic young adults to describe what is important for their quality of life. The 14 participants (aged 21-29 years) were recruited from a 10-year follow-up study of autistic people. During interviews, our participants described the importance of having relationships with family, friends and pets. Having meaningful activities and being able to immerse themselves in particular interests was also reported to be important for a good quality of life. Interests had also guided their choice of what to study and what to do for work. They also spoke of how communication problems with professionals, bullying and sensory and emotional overload could have a negative impact on quality of life. Future interventions should focus on how professionals can help autistic people to connect to people/animals and meaningful activities, as the participants described this as important for having a good quality of life. These findings may be helpful in enhancing how passions and interests can be seen as opportunities for both academic and work careers for autistic people. Future research and interventions should also look at the communication barriers between autistic people and professionals, and how two-way understanding can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Øverland
- Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway
| | | | - Stian Orm
- Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway
| | | | - Erik Winther Skogli
- Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway
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Mahjoob M, Paul T, Carbone J, Bokadia H, Cardy RE, Kassam S, Anagnostou E, Andrade BF, Penner M, Kushki A. Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Neurodivergent Children: A Systematic Review. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024; 27:91-129. [PMID: 38070100 PMCID: PMC10920445 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-023-00462-3] [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: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is a multi-faceted construct influenced by a myriad of environmental, demographic, and individual characteristics. Our understanding of these influencers remains highly limited in neurodevelopmental conditions. Existing research in this area is sparse, highly siloed by diagnosis labels, and focused on symptoms. This review synthesized the evidence in this area using a multi-dimensional model of HRQoL and trans-diagnostically across neurodevelopmental conditions. The systematic review, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Checklist, was completed in June 2023 using Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Our search revealed 78 studies that examined predictors of HRQoL in neurodevelopmental conditions. The majority of these studies focused on autism and ADHD with a paucity of literature in other conditions. Cross-diagnosis investigations were limited despite the fact that many of the examined predictors transcend diagnostic boundaries. Significant gaps were revealed in domains of biology/physiology, functioning, health perceptions, and environmental factors. Very preliminary evidence suggested potentially shared predictors of HRQoL across conditions including positive associations between HRQoL and adaptive functioning, male sex/gender, positive self-perception, physical activity, resources, and positive family context, and negative associations with diagnostic features and mental health symptoms. Studies of transdiagnostic predictors across neurodevelopmental conditions are critically needed to enable care models that address shared needs of neurodivergent individuals beyond diagnostic boundaries. Further understanding of HRQoL from the perspective of neurodivergent communities is a critical area of future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Mahjoob
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Tithi Paul
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Julia Carbone
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Harshit Bokadia
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Robyn E Cardy
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Souraiya Kassam
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Brendan F Andrade
- Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Melanie Penner
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Azadeh Kushki
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada.
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Curie A, Oberlander TF, Jensen KB. Placebo effects in children with autism spectrum disorder. Dev Med Child Neurol 2023; 65:1316-1320. [PMID: 36917698 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Placebo responses are frequently observed in research studies and clinical contexts, yet there is limited knowledge about the placebo effect among children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we review the placebo effect in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Placebo responses are widely evident in ASD clinical trials and could partly operate via so-called placebo-by-proxy, whereby caregivers or clinicians indirectly shape patient outcomes. Understanding the role of placebo effects in ASD may help discern genuine treatment effects from contextual factors in clinical trials. The much less studied nocebo effect, or negative placebo, might contribute to the experience of side effects in ASD treatments but empirical data is missing. Better knowledge about placebo and nocebo mechanisms may contribute to the development of more effective research designs, such as three-armed designs that account for natural history, and improved treatments for ASD symptoms. At a clinical level, deeper knowledge about placebo and nocebo effects may optimize the delivery of care for individuals with ASD in the future. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Placebo responses are evident in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) clinical trials. Placebo responses in ASD are likely dependent on a placebo-by-proxy mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Curie
- Reference Center for Intellectual Disability from Rare Causes, Department of Child Neurology, Woman Mother and Child Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
| | - Tim F Oberlander
- Department of Pediatrics and School of Population and Public Health, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Karin B Jensen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Hassan S, Bhatti MI, Habib S, Fatima S, Bhader S, Khan NH, Jiang E. How fear of intimacy affects infertile men's neuropsychological functioning through mental toughness. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1049008. [PMID: 37555007 PMCID: PMC10406444 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1049008] [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: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is a significant need in Pakistan to investigate the psychological effects of infertility on the mental health of infertile men. The current study examined how fear of intimacy affects neuropsychological impairment and evaluated its relationship to other variables including quality of life and mental toughness. METHOD An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out on infertile male patients in various healthcare settings in Punjab, Pakistan. The participants were recruited using a non-probability (purposive) sampling strategy. The sample size was 120 infertile. SPSS 26 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS Fear of intimacy was found significant impact on neuropsychological impairment (r = 0.40; ***p < 0.001), as well as fear of intimacy, significantly associated with emotional problems (r = 0.48; **p < 0.01), learning problems (r = 0.33; **p < 0.01), sensory and motor problem (r = 0.55; **p < 0.01), concentration problem (r = 0.21; **p < 0.01), mental & physical in coordination (r = 0.37; **p < 0.01) and depression (r = 0.22; **p < 0.01). Fear of intimacy has negative impact on QoL (r = -0.25; *p > 0.05). Similarly, neuropsychological impairment was found to be negatively associated with QoL (r = -0.52; **p > 0.01). The relationship between fear of intimacy and neuropsychological impairment was found to be significantly mediated by QoL. Furthermore, the findings revealed that mental toughness significantly moderated the relationship between fear of intimacy and neuropsychological impairment. CONCLUSION Overall, infertile men in Pakistan had relatively high levels of fear of intimacy, which largely caused neuropsychological impairment. This study can help neuropsychological researchers, mental health professionals, as well as policymakers in improving clinical mental health practices for infertile patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Hassan
- Institute of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Mazhar Iqbal Bhatti
- Department of Psychology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shazia Habib
- Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Sidra Fatima
- University Gillani Law College, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Sher Bhader
- Department of Psychology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Nazeer Hussain Khan
- Institute of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid I Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Enshe Jiang
- Institute of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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Andersen PN, Orm S, Fossum IN, Øie MG, Skogli EW. Adolescence internalizing problems as a mediator between autism diagnosis in childhood and quality of life in emerging adults with and without autism: a 10-year longitudinal study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:149. [PMID: 36894901 PMCID: PMC9996871 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04635-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with autism tend to have a reduced quality of life across their lifespan. This reduced quality of life may be a result of autism traits, mental distress, and poor person/environment fit. In this longitudinal study, we looked at the role of adolescence internalizing and externalizing problems in mediating the relationship between having an autism diagnosis from childhood and perceived quality of life as emerging adults. METHODS A total of 66 participants in a group of emerging adults with autism (mean age 22.2 years), and without autism (mean age 20.9 years) were assessed in three assessment waves (T1 at 12 years, T2 at 14 years, and T3 at 22 years of age). Parents filled out the Child Behavior Checklist at T2 and participants filled out the Perceived Quality of Life Questionnaire at T3. Total and indirect effects were tested in serial mediation analysis. RESULTS The results showed that internalizing problems fully mediated the association between childhood autism diagnosis and the quality of life in emerging adulthood, while externalizing problems did not. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that attention to adolescent internalizing problems is important to improve the later quality of life for emerging adults with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Normann Andersen
- Department of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Holsetgata, Norway.
| | - Stian Orm
- Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway.,Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Nesdal Fossum
- Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway.,Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Glenne Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Erik Winther Skogli
- Department of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Holsetgata, Norway.,Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
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