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Brown CE, Quetsch LB, Aloia LS, Kanne SM. Predictors of Aggression, Disruptive Behavior, and Anger Dysregulation in Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:1264-1280. [PMID: 36697931 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05876-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience difficulties related to aggression, disruptive behavior, and regulation of emotions that precipitate these behaviors (i.e., anger). The extent to which aggression, disruptive behaviors, and anger dysregulation are correlated with distinct or overlapping factors has not yet been explored. The present study examined whether aspects of participant demographics, individual youth functioning, caregiver stress, and family warmth contributed to youth aggression, disruptive behavior, and anger dysregulation. Participants were caregivers of 511 youths with ASD. Analyses revealed that significant proportions of variance in aggression, disruptive behaviors, and anger dysregulation were accounted for by shared variables pertaining to demographics, the individual youth, and caregiver stress. Implications of treatment and future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia E Brown
- School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR, USA.
| | - Lauren B Quetsch
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Lindsey S Aloia
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
- Department of Communication, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Stephen M Kanne
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, NY, USA
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Ferina J, Kruger M, Kruger U, Ryan D, Anderson C, Foster J, Hamlin T, Hahn J. Predicting Problematic Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Medical History and Environmental Data. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1513. [PMID: 37888124 PMCID: PMC10608042 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13101513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by social, communication, and behavioral abnormalities, affects 1 in 36 children according to the CDC. Several co-occurring conditions are often associated with ASD, including sleep and immune disorders and gastrointestinal (GI) problems. ASD is also associated with sensory sensitivities. Some individuals with ASD exhibit episodes of challenging behaviors that can endanger themselves or others, including aggression and self-injurious behavior (SIB). In this work, we explored the use of artificial intelligence models to predict behavior episodes based on past data of co-occurring conditions and environmental factors for 80 individuals in a residential setting. We found that our models predict occurrences of behavior and non-behavior with accuracies as high as 90% for some individuals, and that environmental, as well as gastrointestinal, factors are notable predictors across the population examined. While more work is needed to examine the underlying connections between the factors and the behaviors, having reasonably accurate predictions for behaviors has the potential to improve the quality of life of some individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ferina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA; (J.F.); (U.K.)
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA;
| | - Melanie Kruger
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA;
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Uwe Kruger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA; (J.F.); (U.K.)
| | - Daniel Ryan
- The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY 12742, USA; (D.R.); (C.A.); (J.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Conor Anderson
- The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY 12742, USA; (D.R.); (C.A.); (J.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Jenny Foster
- The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY 12742, USA; (D.R.); (C.A.); (J.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Theresa Hamlin
- The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY 12742, USA; (D.R.); (C.A.); (J.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Juergen Hahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA; (J.F.); (U.K.)
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
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Edelson SM. Understanding Challenging Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multi-Component, Interdisciplinary Model. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12071127. [PMID: 35887624 PMCID: PMC9324526 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12071127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A multi-component, interdisciplinary model is described which explains the presence of, and in other cases the lack of, many challenging behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More specifically, the model expands the operant behavioral conditioning paradigm by taking into account medical comorbidities and interoceptive processing.
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Edelson SM. Evidence from Characteristics and Comorbidities Suggesting That Asperger Syndrome Is a Subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:274. [PMID: 35205319 PMCID: PMC8871744 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The current version of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) does not consider Asperger syndrome a diagnostic category. This study was undertaken to see if there is evidence that this diagnosis should be reinstated. An online survey was conducted to examine symptoms and behaviors associated with the current diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (DSM-V), and those associated with Asperger syndrome based on the previous version (DSM-IV-TR). The study also examined other characteristics historically associated with autism, as well as impairments often reported in infancy/young childhood and medical comorbidities frequently associated with autism. The sample included 251 individuals who had received a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and 1888 who were diagnosed with autism or ASD. Numerous similarities and differences were found between the two groups. The findings are discussed in relation to reestablishing Asperger syndrome as a valid diagnostic category as well as a subtype of ASD.
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