1
|
Pino MC, Masedu F, Vagnetti R, Attanasio M, Di Giovanni C, Valenti M, Mazza M. Validity of Social Cognition Measures in the Clinical Services for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychol 2020; 11:4. [PMID: 32116882 PMCID: PMC7012901 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study evaluated three social cognition (SC) tests for their clinical utility in aiding autism diagnosis. To do so, we compared the performance of 86 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 68 typically developing (TD) children, all aged from 4 to 10 years old, on three SC tasks [the Social Information Processing Interview (SIPI), the Comic Strip Task (CST), and the children's version of the Eyes Task] and calculated threshold scores that best differentiated the two groups. While difficulties in these abilities appear to represent the "central core" of ASD, services have largely ignored SC tests when supporting autism diagnoses. Therefore, this study attempted to validate and evaluate the diagnostic potential of these three tasks for children with ASD. To investigate the accuracy of these SC tests, we used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. As expected, the ASD group performed worse than the TD group on the SIPI and CST, but contrary to our prediction, the groups did not significantly differ on the Eyes Task. Specifically, the overall area under the curve (AUC) for the SIPI was 0.87, with a sensitivity of 73.5% and a specificity of 83.9% at the best cutoff point (score range 0-36; best cutoff = 31). The overall AUC for the CST was 0.75, with a sensitivity of 71.1% and a specificity of 77.0% at the best cutoff point (score range 0-15; best cutoff = 11). The overall AUC for the Eyes Task was 0.51, with a sensitivity of 50.3% and a specificity of 40.2% at the best cutoff point (score range 0-54; best cutoff = 45). In conclusion, the results showed that the SIPI test has good predictive power for classifying children with ASD. It should provide substantial supplementary clinical information and help to consolidate diagnostic procedures based on standard tools. Moreover, the results of the study have substantial implications for clinical practice: the better the knowledge of SC functioning in children with ASD, the more effective the intervention program for rehabilitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Pino
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Regional Centre for Autism, Abruzzo Region Health System, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Masedu
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Roberto Vagnetti
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Margherita Attanasio
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Giovanni
- Regional Centre for Autism, Abruzzo Region Health System, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Valenti
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Regional Centre for Autism, Abruzzo Region Health System, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Monica Mazza
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Regional Centre for Autism, Abruzzo Region Health System, L’Aquila, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Valenti M, Di Giovanni C, Mariano M, Pino MC, Sconci V, Mazza M. [Autism after an earthquake: the experience of L'Aquila (Central Italy) as a basis for an operative guideline]. Epidemiol Prev 2016; 40:49-52. [PMID: 27291209 DOI: 10.19191/ep16.2s1.p049.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
People with autism, their families, and their specialised caregivers are a social group at high health risk after a disruptive earthquake. They need emergency assistance and immediate structured support according to definite protocols and quality standards. We recommend to establish national guidelines for taking-in-charge people with autism after an earthquake. The adaptive behaviour of participants with autism declined dramatically in the first months after the earthquake in all the dimensions examined (i.e., communication, daily living, socialisation, and motor skills). After relatively stable conditions returned and with immediate and intensive post-disaster intervention, children and adolescents with autism showed a trend towards partial recovery of adaptive functioning. As to the impact on services, this study indicates the need for supporting exposed caregivers at high risk of burnout over the first two years after the disaster and for an immediate reorganisation of person-tailored services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Valenti
- Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
- Centro di riferimento regionale autismo, ASL 1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila
| | - Chiara Di Giovanni
- Centro di riferimento regionale autismo, ASL 1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila
| | - Melania Mariano
- Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
| | - Maria Chiara Pino
- Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
| | - Vittorio Sconci
- Dipartimento di salute mentale, ASL 1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila
| | - Monica Mazza
- Dipartimento di scienze cliniche applicate e biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Forte SM, Muñoz AH, Hernandez LM, Di Giovanni C, Anguita MDCB, Prados PA. Lifestyles of Almeria women between 45 and 65 years old. Maturitas 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
4
|
Di Giovanni C, Anguita MDCB, Muñoz AH, Hernandez LM, Forte SM, Prados PA. Vitamin D levels in Almeria women and its relationship with calcium and/or vitamin D supplements. Maturitas 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
5
|
Rodríguez MDMG, Alonso LM, Muñoz AH, Ruíz MER, Anguita MDCB, Di Giovanni C, Prados PA. Relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and urinary calcium levels. Maturitas 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
6
|
Anguita MDCB, Di Giovanni C, Forte SM, Hernandez LM, Muñoz AH, Prados PA. Relationship between daily intake of milk and doses of calcium and vitamin D supplements. Maturitas 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
7
|
Ruíz MER, Anguita MDCB, Rodríguez MDMG, Di Giovanni C, Muñoz AH, Forte SM, Prados PA. Urinary calcium levels in women treated with calcium and vitamin D supplements. Maturitas 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
8
|
Muñoz AH, Di Giovanni C, Alonso LM, Anguita MDCB, Ruíz MER, Rodríguez MDMG, Prados PA, Forte SM. Relationship between urinary calcium and treatment with anti-osteoporotic drugs. Maturitas 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.02.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
9
|
Masedu F, Mazza M, Di Giovanni C, Calvarese A, Tiberti S, Sconci V, Valenti M. Facebook, quality of life, and mental health outcomes in post-disaster urban environments: the l'aquila earthquake experience. Front Public Health 2014; 2:286. [PMID: 25566527 PMCID: PMC4273552 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: An understudied area of interest in post-disaster public health is individuals’ use of social networks as a potential determinant of quality of life (QOL) and mental health outcomes. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out to examine whether continual use of online social networking (Facebook) in an adult population following a massive earthquake was correlated with prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and QOL outcomes. Methods: Participants were a sample of 890 adults aged 25–54 who had been exposed to the L’Aquila earthquake of 2009. Definition of “user” required a daily connection to the Facebook online social network for more than 1 h per day from at least 2 years. Depression and PTSD were assessed using the Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health. QOL outcomes were measured using the World Health Organisation Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. Logistic regression was carried out to calculate the prevalence odds ratios (POR) for social network use and other covariates. Results: Two hundred and twenty one of 423 (52.2%) men, and 195 of 383 (50.9%) women, had been using Facebook as social network for at least 2 years prior to our assessment. Social network use correlated with both depression and PTSD, after adjusting for gender. A halved risk of depression was found in users vs. non-users (POR 0.50 ± 0.16). Similarly, a halved risk of PTSD in users vs. non-users (POR 0.47 ± 0.14) was found. Both men and women using online social networks had significantly higher QOL scores in the psychological and social domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: Social network use among adults 25–54 years old has a positive impact on mental health and QOL outcomes in the years following a disaster. The use of social networks may be an important tool for coping with the mental health outcomes of disruptive natural disasters, helping to maintain, if not improve, QOL in terms of social relationships and psychological distress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Masedu
- Section of Environmental Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Monica Mazza
- Section of Neuropsychology, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Chiara Di Giovanni
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Anna Calvarese
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Sergio Tiberti
- Section of Environmental Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Vittorio Sconci
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Marco Valenti
- Section of Environmental Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy ; Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Di Giovanni C, Culpo R, Vittadello F, Trainito S, Puggina S, Martini G, Zulian F. YIM-O20. Standardization and performance of cone beam ct scan for the evaluation of linear scleroderma of the face. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2014. [PMCID: PMC4191736 DOI: 10.1186/1546-0096-12-s1-y2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
11
|
Valenti M, Masedu F, Mazza M, Tiberti S, Di Giovanni C, Calvarese A, Pirro R, Sconci V. A longitudinal study of quality of life of earthquake survivors in L'Aquila, Italy. BMC Public Health 2013; 13:1143. [PMID: 24314066 PMCID: PMC4029473 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-1143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People's well-being after loss resulting from an earthquake is a concern in countries prone to natural disasters. Most studies on post-earthquake subjective quality of life (QOL) have focused on the effects of psychological impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the psychological dimension of QOL. However, there is a need for studies focusing on QOL in populations not affected by PTSD or psychological impairment. The aim of this study was to estimate QOL changes over an 18-month period in an adult population sample after the L'Aquila 2009 earthquake. METHODS The study was designed as a longitudinal survey with four repeated measurements performed at six monthly intervals. The setting was the general population of an urban environment after a disruptive earthquake. Participants included 397 healthy adult subjects. Exclusion criteria were comorbidities such as physical, psychological, psychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases at the beginning of the study. The primary outcome measure was QOL, as assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. A generalised estimating equation model was run for each WHOQOL-BREF domain. RESULTS Overall, QOL scores were observed to be significantly higher 18 months after the earthquake in all WHOQOL-BREF domains. The model detected an average increase in the physical QOL scores (from 66.6 ± 5.2 to 69.3 ± 4.7), indicating a better overall physical QOL for men. Psychological domain scores (from 64.9 ± 5.1 to 71.5 ± 6.5) were observed to be worse in men than in women. Levels at the WHOQOL domain for psychological health increased from the second assessment onwards in women, indicating higher resiliency. Men averaged higher scores than women in terms of social relationships and the environmental domain. Regarding the physical, psychological and social domains of QOL, scores in the elderly group (age > 60) were observed to be similar to each other regardless of the significant covariates used. CONCLUSIONS WHOQOL-BREF scores of the psychological domain displayed trends conditioned by age and education: older subjects experienced less satisfaction with psychological health on average. Less-educated subjects always demonstrated the worst QOL scores. Gender, age and education impacted the variability of QOL in the environmental dimension in the elderly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Valenti
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Clinical Epidemiology and Environmental Medicine, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Masedu
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Clinical Epidemiology and Environmental Medicine, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Monica Mazza
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Piazza S. Tommasi, Coppito, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Sergio Tiberti
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Clinical Epidemiology and Environmental Medicine, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Giovanni
- Department of Mental Health, Territorial Health Agency ASL1, P.O. Collemaggio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Anna Calvarese
- Department of Mental Health, Territorial Health Agency ASL1, P.O. Collemaggio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Roberta Pirro
- Department of Mental Health, Territorial Health Agency ASL1, P.O. Collemaggio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sconci
- Department of Mental Health, Territorial Health Agency ASL1, P.O. Collemaggio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Aliberti G, Pulignano I, Proietta M, Miraldi F, Cigognetti L, Tritapepe L, Giovanni CD, Arzilla R, Vecci E, Toscano M. Hormone metabolism in the pulmonary circulation. Physiol Res 2002; 50:231-5. [PMID: 11521733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We measured hormonal levels in blood samples from pulmonary and radial arteries in 117 patients undergoing aorto-coronary by-pass surgery with the aim of investigating the role of the pulmonary vessel endothelium in hormone metabolism. Insulin and glucagon concentrations were significantly higher in pulmonary artery blood with respect to radial artery blood (73 +/- 65 vs. 65 +/- 47 pmol/l, p < 0.005, and 80 +/- 49 vs. 73 +/- 51 ng/l, p < 0.01, respectively), while no difference was found for growth hormone, prolactin, C peptide, insulin-like growth factor I, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, parathyroid hormone, thyroglobulin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine. Moreover, prolactin concentrations were more than twice the normal levels, this being an effect of propafol and the opiate fentanyl used for the general anesthesia. Assuming that the arteriovenous differences observed are a marker of peptide hormone degradation, our study has demonstrated that with similar kinetics insulin and glucagon secreted into portal circulation and escaping from hepatic extraction undergo further homeostatic removal of about 9-10 % in the pulmonary circulation before entering the general circulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Aliberti
- Department of Clinical Science, Chirurgia del Cuore e dei Grossi Vasi, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|