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Karlsen K, Munkhaugen EK, Fossum HK, Bakken TL, Kildahl AN. Mental Health Services for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Qualitative Study of Patient Characteristics, Associated Factors and Consequent Needs for Adaptation in Assessment and Treatment. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2025; 38:e13315. [PMID: 39448449 DOI: 10.1111/jar.13315] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of mental health disorders, but may struggle to access appropriate services. While assessment/treatment may need to be adapted, knowledge is limited about what such adaptations may entail. METHOD During a service development project, the participants (33 professionals, 13 family members) were asked to identify the characteristics/associated factors of individuals with intellectual disabilities and co-occurring mental health disorders. Using thematic analysis, 1103 participant responses were analyzed to identify the needs for adaptation in assessment/treatment. RESULTS Three core themes were identified: (1) A broader assessment: Gaining an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the individual's history, abilities and difficulties, (2) Adjusting/modifying existing treatment strategies, (3) Ensuring that the individual's day-to-day needs are met. CONCLUSIONS According to the participants, assessment/treatment of mental health disorder in this population requires more time and broader assessments are necessary. Family/caregiver involvement and cross-service organisation/collaboration represent other important adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjersti Karlsen
- Norwegian Advisory Unit on Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ellen Kathrine Munkhaugen
- Norwegian Advisory Unit on Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanne Kari Fossum
- Norwegian Advisory Unit on Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trine Lise Bakken
- Norwegian Advisory Unit on Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arvid Nikolai Kildahl
- Norwegian Advisory Unit on Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- NevSom - Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Herrera-Pino J, Benedetti-Isaac J, Ripoll-Córdoba D, Camargo L, Castillo-Tamara EE, Morales-Asencio B, Perea-Castro E, Torres Zambrano M, Ducassou A, Flórez Y, Porto MF, Gargiulo PA, Zurita-Cueva B, Caldichoury N, Coronado JC, Castellanos C, Ramírez-Penso C, López N. Effectiveness of deep brain stimulation on refractory aggression in pediatric patients with autism and severe intellectual disability: meta-analytic review. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:487. [PMID: 39080575 PMCID: PMC11290060 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04920-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Some patients with autism and severe intellectual disability may experience uncontrolled aggression, causing serious injury or harm to others, and the therapeutic ineffectiveness of traditional pharmacological and behavioral treatment may aggravate symptoms. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been tested in patients with little evidence in children and adolescents. Therefore, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of DBS in refractory aggression in pediatric subjects with autism (ASD) and severe intelligence deficit (ID).Methods A meta-analytic review of Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus articles, following Prisma criteria. A total of 555 articles were identified, but after applying the inclusion criteria, only 18 were analyzed. The review of the registries and the extraction of information was performed by 2 independent groups, to reduce the evaluator's bias. For the description of the results, pediatric patients with ASD or ID present in each registry, with an application of specialized scales (Overt aggression scale, OAS, and THE modified version of the OAS, MOAS) pre and post-DBS, with a clinical follow-up of at least 12 months, were considered valid. Clinical improvement was calculated using tests of aggressiveness. In each registry with available data and then pooling the means of all patients in the OAS and MOAS, the effect size of DBS (overall and per study) was estimated. Finally, the adapted NOS scale was applied to rate the studies' quality and level of bias.Results In the studies analyzed, 65/100 were pediatric patients, with a mean age of 16.8 years. Most of the studies were conducted in South America and Europe. In all teams, aggressive behavior was intractable, but only 9 groups (53/65) applied specialized scales to measure aggressiveness, and of these, only 51 subjects had a follow-up of at least 12 months. Thus, in 48/51 a clinical improvement of patients was estimated (94.2%), with a considerable overall effect size (OAS: d = 4.32; MOAS: d = 1.46). However, adverse effects and complications were found in 13/65 subjects undergoing DBS. The brain target with the most evidence and the fewest side effects was the posteromedial hypothalamic nuclei (pHypN). Finally, applying the adapted NOS scale, quality, and bias, only 9 studies show the best indicators.Conclusion An optimal level of efficacy was found in only half of the publications. This is mainly due to design errors and irrelevant information in the reports. We believe that DBS in intractable aggressiveness in children and adolescents with ASD and severe ID can be safe and effective if working groups apply rigorous criteria for patient selection, interdisciplinary assessments, objective scales for aggressiveness, and known surgical targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Herrera-Pino
- College of Medicine, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8Th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Juancarlos Benedetti-Isaac
- Clinica Neurocardiovascular, Neurodinamia, Tv. 54 #21a-75, Cartagena, Colombia
- Misericordia International Clinic, Cra. 74 #76-105, Barranquilla, 080001, Colombia
| | - Daniela Ripoll-Córdoba
- Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de La Costa, Cl. 58 #55 - 66, Barranquilla, 080002, Colombia
| | - Loida Camargo
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena, Campus Zaragocilla, Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, 130014, Colombia
| | - Edgard E Castillo-Tamara
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Sinú, Provincia de Cartagena, Calle 30 #20-71, Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
| | - Breiner Morales-Asencio
- Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de La Costa, Cl. 58 #55 - 66, Barranquilla, 080002, Colombia
| | - Esther Perea-Castro
- Clinica Neurocardiovascular, Neurodinamia, Tv. 54 #21a-75, Cartagena, Colombia
| | | | | | - Yuliana Flórez
- Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de La Costa, Cl. 58 #55 - 66, Barranquilla, 080002, Colombia
| | - María F Porto
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, Universitat de Barcelona and Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), Carrer de La Feixa Llarga, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08907, Spain
| | - Pascual A Gargiulo
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias y Psicología Experimental (CONICET), Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Parque General San Martín, Mendoza, M5502JMA, Argentina
| | - Boris Zurita-Cueva
- Departamento de Neurocirugía, Omni Hospital, Avenida abel Romeo Castillo y ave. Tanca Marengo., Guayaquil, 090513, Ecuador
| | - Nicole Caldichoury
- Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Los Lagos, Av Alberto-Hertha Fuchslocher 1305, Osorno, Los Lagos, Chile
| | - Juan-Carlos Coronado
- Facultad de Salud, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Montt 56, Temuco, Araucanía, 4780000, Chile
| | - Cesar Castellanos
- Instituto Dominicano para el Estudio de la Salud Integral y la Psicología Aplicada (IDESIP), C. Eugenio Deschamps No.5, Santo Domingo, 10014, República Dominicana
| | - Cleto Ramírez-Penso
- Departamento de Neurocirugía, Director general del Centro Cardio-Neuro-Oftalmológico y Trasplante (CECANOT), C/ Federico Velázquez #1, Sector Maria Auxiliadora, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
- Sociedad Dominicana de Neurología y Neurocirugía (Pax- President), F38M+CHM, Santo Domingo, 10106, República Dominicana
| | - Norman López
- Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de La Costa, Cl. 58 #55 - 66, Barranquilla, 080002, Colombia.
- Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Manuel Rodríguez 060, Temuco, 4790870, Chile.
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Kildahl AN, Helverschou SB. Post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences involving violence or sexual abuse in a clinical sample of autistic adults with intellectual disabilities: Prevalence and clinical correlates. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:1075-1089. [PMID: 37609889 PMCID: PMC11067401 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231190948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that may be triggered by the experience of events perceived as terrifying or overwhelming. Examples of such events include being the victim of violence or sexual abuse. Compared with other people, autistic people have increased risk of being exposed to violence or sexual abuse. In addition, autistic people may be more vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder following such exposure. However, knowledge is limited concerning the prevalence of experiences involving violence and sexual abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder, in autistic people with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Detection of these experiences, and identification of post-traumatic stress disorder, may be challenging in these individuals, and previous research indicates that post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may be overlooked or misinterpreted. In this study, we examined prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, violence and sexual abuse in a clinical sample of 88 autistic adults with intellectual disabilities referred for mental health assessment. Only 3.4% were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, even if experiences involving violence (34.1%) or sexual abuse (17.0%) were common. Anxiety and affective disorders were common diagnoses among participants with these experiences. Controlling for autism characteristics, level of intellectual disability and communication skills, experiences of violence/sexual abuse were found to be associated with a measure of 'challenging' behaviours. These results indicate that potentially traumatic experiences are common in autistic adults with intellectual disabilities referred for mental health assessment, and that post-traumatic stress disorder may be under-recognised. The findings highlight the importance of trauma screening and post-traumatic stress disorder assessment, as well as the importance of trauma-informed care, in this population.
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Halvorsen MB, Kildahl AN, Kaiser S, Axelsdottir B, Aman MG, Helverschou SB. Applicability and Psychometric Properties of General Mental Health Assessment Tools in Autistic People: A Systematic Review. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06324-3. [PMID: 38613595 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06324-3] [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] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of instruments for assessing mental health (MH) among autistic people. This study aimed to review the psychometric properties of broadband instruments used to assess MH problems among autistic people. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42022316571) we searched the APA PsycINFO via Ovid, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and the Web of Science via Clarivate databases from 1980 to March 2022, with an updated search in January 2024, to identify very recent empirical studies. Independent reviewers evaluated the titles and abstracts of the retrieved records (n = 11,577) and full-text articles (n = 1000). Data were extracted from eligible studies, and the quality of the included papers was appraised. In all, 164empirical articles reporting on 35 instruments were included. The review showed variable evidence of reliability and validity of the various instruments. Among the instruments reported in more than one study, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist had consistently good or excellent psychometric evidence. The reliability and validity of other instruments, including: the Developmental Behavior Checklist, Emotion Dysregulation Inventory, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children Scale, and Psychopathology in Autism Checklist, were less documented. There is a need for a greater evidence-base for MH assessment tools for autistic people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Berg Halvorsen
- Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, University Hospital of North Norway, P.O. Box 2, 9038, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Arvid Nikolai Kildahl
- NevSom Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Intellectual Disabilities/Autism, Regional Section Mental Health, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sabine Kaiser
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare (RKBU North), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Brynhildur Axelsdottir
- Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael G Aman
- Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Nisonger Center, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sissel Berge Helverschou
- NevSom Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Bakken TL, Askeland Hellerud JM, Kildahl AN, Solheim-Inderberg AM, Hove O, Berge Helverschou S. Schizophrenia in Autistic People with Intellectual Disabilities. Treatment and Interventions. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06286-6. [PMID: 38393435 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06286-6] [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: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Autistic people with intellectual disabilities appear to be at increased risk of schizophrenia. While current recommendations emphasize adapting interventions used for people with schizophrenia in general, few studies to date have investigated treatment of co-occurring schizophrenia in this specific population. To explore what interventions are provided to autistic people with intellectual disabilities and co-occurring schizophrenia in specialized mental health services, and to investigate whether changes in mental health symptoms and challenging behavior occurred during treatment. Using data from a longitudinal, national multicenter study, interventions provided to 26 autistic individuals with intellectual disabilities and co-occurring schizophrenia were explored. Symptoms were measured using the Psychopathology in Autism Checklist (PAC) and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist ABC) at referral (T1), at the end of treatment (T2), and at follow-up 12 months after T2 (T3). A broad range of interventions were provided to the participants, including inpatient admission, psychopharmacological treatment, various psychosocial interventions, and supportive interventions. Scores on the PAC and ABC were significantly lower at T2 than T1 for most scales, and no significant change was found from T2 to T3.Treatment of co-occurring schizophrenia appears feasible and effective in autistic people with intellectual disabilities.
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Bakken TL, Kildahl AN, Ludvigsen LB, Bjørgen TG, Dalhaug C, Hellerud JMA, Hove O, Solheim-Inderberg AM, Karlsen K, Helverschou SB. Schizophrenia in autistic people with intellectual disabilities: Symptom manifestations and identification. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2023; 36:1076-1091. [PMID: 37264713 DOI: 10.1111/jar.13127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The assessment of schizophrenia in autistic people with intellectual disabilities is challenging. This study aimed to explore the identification of schizophrenia in this population. METHODS Using data from a clinical multi-centre study, reported symptoms in 26 autistic individuals with intellectual disabilities diagnosed with co-occurring schizophrenia were explored. Scores on two checklists (Psychopathology in Autism Checklist [PAC], Aberrant Behaviour Checklist [ABC]) were compared with two comparison groups: autistic individuals with intellectual disabilities and other mental disorders (94), or no mental disorder (63). RESULTS Reported symptoms of schizophrenia in this population met the formal diagnostic criteria. For PAC/ABC scales, only PAC psychosis differed for the schizophrenia group. Among participants with schizophrenia, two were diagnosed with additional mental disorders. Elevated scores for anxiety and depression were common. CONCLUSIONS Emphasising core symptoms seems necessary when assessing co-occurring schizophrenia in autistic people with intellectual disabilities. The PAC may serve as a helpful screening tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trine Lise Bakken
- Oslo University Hospital, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Tale Gjertine Bjørgen
- St. Olavs University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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