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Jertberg RM, Begeer S, Geurts HM, Chakrabarti B, Van der Burg E. Age, not autism, influences multisensory integration of speech stimuli among adults in a McGurk/MacDonald paradigm. Eur J Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38570828 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Differences between autistic and non-autistic individuals in perception of the temporal relationships between sights and sounds are theorized to underlie difficulties in integrating relevant sensory information. These, in turn, are thought to contribute to problems with speech perception and higher level social behaviour. However, the literature establishing this connection often involves limited sample sizes and focuses almost entirely on children. To determine whether these differences persist into adulthood, we compared 496 autistic and 373 non-autistic adults (aged 17 to 75 years). Participants completed an online version of the McGurk/MacDonald paradigm, a multisensory illusion indicative of the ability to integrate audiovisual speech stimuli. Audiovisual asynchrony was manipulated, and participants responded both to the syllable they perceived (revealing their susceptibility to the illusion) and to whether or not the audio and video were synchronized (allowing insight into temporal processing). In contrast with prior research with smaller, younger samples, we detected no evidence of impaired temporal or multisensory processing in autistic adults. Instead, we found that in both groups, multisensory integration correlated strongly with age. This contradicts prior presumptions that differences in multisensory perception persist and even increase in magnitude over the lifespan of autistic individuals. It also suggests that the compensatory role multisensory integration may play as the individual senses decline with age is intact. These findings challenge existing theories and provide an optimistic perspective on autistic development. They also underline the importance of expanding autism research to better reflect the age range of the autistic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Jertberg
- Department of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sander Begeer
- Department of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroup), Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Bhismadev Chakrabarti
- Centre for Autism, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
- India Autism Center, Kolkata, India
- Department of Psychology, Ashoka University, Sonipat, India
| | - Erik Van der Burg
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, van der Putten WJ, Geurts HM. The clinical relevance of subgroups of autistic adults: Stability and predictive value. Autism Res 2024; 17:747-760. [PMID: 38429933 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Autism in adulthood is characterized by heterogeneity, complicating the provision of tailored support. In previous work, we aimed to capture this heterogeneity by determining subgroups of autistic adults that differed in clinical outcomes: cognitive failures, psychological difficulties, and quality of life (QoL). Two subgroups were identified: a "Feelings of Low Grip" subgroup characterized by experiencing a lower sense of mastery and a higher susceptibility to difficulties in daily life, and a "Feelings of High Grip" subgroup characterized by a higher sense of mastery and lower susceptibility to difficulties in daily life. The current pre-registered study involves a longitudinal extension to determine (a) stability and (b) predictive value of the previously identified two subgroups. Subgroups were identified using community detection based on 14 self-report measures related to demographic, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics in two samples (aged 31-86 years) that were analyzed separately: Sample 1 (NAutism = 80) measured 5 years after baseline and Sample 2 (NAutism = 241, NComparison = 211) measured 2 years after baseline. The stability over time was assessed based on (a) the number of subgroups, (b) subgroup profiles, and (c) subgroup membership. Predictive validity was assessed for cognitive failures, psychological difficulties, and QoL. Results indicated that autistic and non-autistic adults formed distinct subgroups. Within both autism samples, the two previously identified autism subgroups were replicated at follow-up. Subgroup profiles were similar for >50% of the variables at two-year follow-up, and 21% at five-year follow-up. Moreover, ≥76% remained in the same subgroup at two-year follow-up, and ≥ 57% after 5 years. Subgroup membership was predictive of external clinical outcomes up to 5 years. Thus, this study demonstrated the stability and predictive value of the autism subgroups, especially for the two-year follow-up. A further focus on their clinical utility might increase the aptness of support, and may provide more insight into the aging process when being autistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulsi A Radhoe
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
| | - Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
| | - Carolien Torenvliet
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
- Research Institute for Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
| | - Wikke J van der Putten
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroep), Amsterdam, HN, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, WS, Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroep), Amsterdam, HN, Netherlands
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3
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van der Putten WJ, Mol AJJ, Radhoe TA, Torenvliet C, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Groenman AP, Geurts HM. The relationship between camouflaging and mental health: Are there differences among subgroups in autistic adults? Autism 2024; 28:908-919. [PMID: 37497845 PMCID: PMC10981194 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231185402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT When autistic people use strategies to hide their autistic characteristics, we call this camouflaging. Autistic adults suggested that camouflaging can result in mental health difficulties. That is, people who report to camouflage also report mental health difficulties. However, since there are many differences between autistic people, this relationship may also differ between subgroups. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether camouflaging and mental health difficulties are related and whether this relationship is equal for all autistic adults. For this study, 352 autistic adults aged 30-84 years filled in the Dutch Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire to measure camouflaging and the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised to measure mental health difficulties. We found that camouflaging was moderately related to mental health difficulties. This means that people who report more camouflaging also report more mental health difficulties. When we looked closer, we found that this relationship was strong for only a small subgroup of autistic adults. In most other autistic adults, there was a small or no relationship between camouflaging and mental health difficulties. Therefore, it is important that clinicians are aware of camouflaging and its possible relationship with mental health difficulties, but that they do not generalize the negative consequences to everyone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wikke J van der Putten
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Group), The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Audrey JJ Mol
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Group), The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Group), The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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van der Putten WJ, Mol AJJ, Groenman AP, Radhoe TA, Torenvliet C, van Rentergem JAA, Geurts HM. Is camouflaging unique for autism? A comparison of camouflaging between adults with autism and ADHD. Autism Res 2024; 17:812-823. [PMID: 38323512 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Camouflaging (using (un)conscious strategies to appear as non-autistic) is thought to be an important reason for late autism diagnoses and mental health difficulties. However, it is unclear whether only autistic people camouflage or whether people with other neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions also use similar camouflaging strategies. Therefore, in this preregistered study (AsPredicted: #41811) study, we investigated if adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) also camouflage. Adults aged 30-90 years filled in the Dutch Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q-NL), the ADHD Self-Report (ADHD-SR) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). We investigated differences in camouflaging between adults with ADHD, autism, and a comparison group in an age and sex-matched subsample (N = 105 per group). We explored if autism and ADHD traits explained camouflaging levels in adults with an autism and/or ADHD diagnosis (N = 477). Adults with ADHD scored higher on total camouflaging and assimilation subscale compared to the comparison group. However, adults with ADHD scored lower on total camouflaging, and subscales compensation and assimilation than autistic adults. Autism traits, but not ADHD traits, were a significant predictor of camouflaging, independent of diagnosis. Thus, camouflaging does not seem to be unique to autistic adults, since adults with ADHD also show camouflaging behavior, even though not as much as autistic adults. However, as the CAT-Q-NL specifically measures camouflaging of autistic traits it is important to develop more general measures of camouflaging, to compare camouflaging more reliably in people with different mental health conditions. Furthermore, focusing on camouflaging in adults with ADHD, including potential consequences for late diagnoses and mental health seems a promising future research avenue.
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Affiliation(s)
- W J van der Putten
- Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Outpatient Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A J J Mol
- Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Outpatient Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A P Groenman
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T A Radhoe
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Torenvliet
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J A Agelink van Rentergem
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Outpatient Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Radhoe TA, Geurts HM. When mind and measurement diverge; the interplay between subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs), objective cognition, age, and depression in autistic adults. Psychiatry Res 2024; 333:115759. [PMID: 38301288 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
While the increased incidence of dementia and subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) suggests that autistic adults may face cognitive challenges at older age, the extent to which SCCs predict (future) cognitive functioning remains uncertain. This uncertainty is complicated by associations with variables like depression. The current study aims to unravel the interplay of age, depression, cognitive performance, and SCCs in autism. Using a large cross-sectional cohort of autistic (n=202) and non-autistic adults (n=247), we analyzed associations of SCCs with age, depression, and cognitive performance across three domains (visual memory, verbal memory, and fluency). Results showed a strong significant association between depression and SCCs in both autistic and non-autistic adults. Cognitive performance was not significantly associated with SCCs, except for a (modest) association between visual memory performance and SCCs in autistic adults only. Follow-up regression tree analysis indicated that depression and being autistic were considerably more predictive of SCCs than objective cognitive performance. Age nor sex was significantly associated with SCCs. These findings indicate that self-reported cognitive functioning does not equal cognitive performance, and should be interpreted with care, especially in individuals with high rates of depression. Longitudinal investigations are needed to understand SCCs' role in dementia and cognitive health in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolien Torenvliet
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Groningen, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands; Accare Child Study Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tulsi A Radhoe
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Jertberg RM, Begeer S, Geurts HM, Chakrabarti B, Van der Burg E. Perception of temporal synchrony not a prerequisite for multisensory integration. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4982. [PMID: 38424118 PMCID: PMC10904801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55572-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Temporal alignment is often viewed as the most essential cue the brain can use to integrate information from across sensory modalities. However, the importance of conscious perception of synchrony to multisensory integration is a controversial topic. Conversely, the influence of cross-modal incongruence of higher level stimulus features such as phonetics on temporal processing is poorly understood. To explore the nuances of this relationship between temporal processing and multisensory integration, we presented 101 participants (ranging from 19 to 73 years of age) with stimuli designed to elicit the McGurk/MacDonald illusion (either matched or mismatched pairs of phonemes and visemes) with varying degrees of stimulus onset asynchrony between the visual and auditory streams. We asked them to indicate which syllable they perceived and whether the video and audio were synchronized on each trial. We found that participants often experienced the illusion despite not perceiving the stimuli as synchronous, and the same phonetic incongruence that produced the illusion also led to significant interference in simultaneity judgments. These findings challenge the longstanding assumption that perception of synchrony is a prerequisite to multisensory integration, support a more flexible view of multisensory integration, and suggest a complex, reciprocal relationship between temporal and multisensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Jertberg
- Department of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, The Netherlands and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sander Begeer
- Department of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, The Netherlands and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bhismadev Chakrabarti
- Centre for Autism, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
- India Autism Center, Kolkata, India.
- Department of Psychology, Ashoka University, Sonipat, India.
| | - Erik Van der Burg
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Hutten JC, van Horn JE, Hoppenbrouwers SS, Ziermans TB, Geurts HM. Neuropsychological assessment of aggressive offenders: a Delphi consensus study. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1328839. [PMID: 38464622 PMCID: PMC10922935 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1328839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study explores the intricate relationship between cognitive functioning and aggression, with a specific focus on individuals prone to reactive or proactive aggression. The purpose of the study was to identify important neuropsychological constructs and suitable tests for comprehending and addressing aggression. Methods An international panel of 32 forensic neuropsychology experts participated in this three-round Delphi study consisting of iterative online questionnaires. The experts rated the importance of constructs based on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. Subsequently, they suggested tests that can be used to assess these constructs and rated their suitability. Results The panel identified the RDoC domains Negative Valence Systems, Social Processes, Cognitive Systems and Positive Valence Systems as most important in understanding aggression. Notably, the results underscore the significance of Positive Valence Systems in proactive aggression and Negative Valence Systems in reactive aggression. The panel suggested a diverse array of 223 different tests, although they noted that not every RDoC construct can be effectively measured through a neuropsychological test. The added value of a multimodal assessment strategy is discussed. Conclusions This research advances our understanding of the RDoC constructs related to aggression and provides valuable insights for assessment strategies. Rather than suggesting a fixed set of tests, our study takes a flexible approach by presenting a top-3 list for each construct. This approach allows for tailored assessment to meet specific clinical or research needs. An important limitation is the predominantly Dutch composition of the expert panel, despite extensive efforts to diversify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette C. Hutten
- De Waag (Outpatient Forensic Mental Health Clinic), Forensic Care Specialists, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joan E. van Horn
- De Waag (Outpatient Forensic Mental Health Clinic), Forensic Care Specialists, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sylco S. Hoppenbrouwers
- De Waag (Outpatient Forensic Mental Health Clinic), Forensic Care Specialists, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Tim B. Ziermans
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M. Geurts
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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8
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Warreman EB, Ester WA, Geurts HM, Vermeiren RRJM, Nooteboom LA. How do primary care providers and autistic adults want to improve their primary care? A Delphi-study. Autism 2024; 28:449-460. [PMID: 37194206 PMCID: PMC10851648 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231172865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autistic adults often encounter different types of healthcare barriers. Because autistic adults also have an increased risk for health problems, the aim of this study was to evaluate barriers and to explore how primary care providers and autistic adults want to improve their primary healthcare. In this co-created study, semi-structured interviews with three autistic adults, two parents of autistic children and six care providers were performed to evaluate barriers in Dutch healthcare. Next, in the survey-study (using the Delphi-method including controlled feedback in three consecutive questionnaires), 21 autistic adults and 20 primary care providers rated the impact of barriers and the usefulness and feasibility of recommendations to improve primary healthcare. In the interviews, 20 barriers in Dutch healthcare for autistic people were found. In the survey-study, the primary care providers rated the negative impact of most barriers lower than the autistic adults. This survey-study resulted in 22 recommendations to improve primary healthcare focused on: primary care providers (including education in collaboration with autistic people), autistic adults (including improvement of preparation for general practitioner-appointments) and organization of general practice (including improvement of continuity in care). In conclusion, primary care providers seem to view healthcare barriers as less impactful than autistic adults. In this co-created study, recommendations to improve primary healthcare for autistic adults were identified, based on the needs of autistic adults and primary care providers. These recommendations provide a basis for primary care providers, autistic adults and their support network to start conversations about, for example, strategies to improve primary care providers' knowledge, autistic adults' preparation for a general practitioner-appointment and organization of primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B Warreman
- Leiden University Medical Center Curium, the Netherlands
| | - Wietske A Ester
- Leiden University Medical Center Curium, the Netherlands
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, the Netherlands
- Sarr Autisme Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Youz, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Robert RJM Vermeiren
- Leiden University Medical Center Curium, the Netherlands
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, the Netherlands
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9
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Scheeren AM, Olde Dubbelink L, Lever AG, Geurts HM. Two validation studies of a performance validity test for autistic adults. Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38279835 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2024.2305206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
In two studies we examined the potential of a simple emotion recognition task, the Morel Emotional Numbing Test (MENT), as a performance validity test (PVT) for autism-related cognitive difficulties in adulthood. The aim of a PVT is to indicate non-credible performance, which can aid the interpretation of psychological assessments. There are currently no validated PVTs for autism-related difficulties in adulthood. In Study 1, non-autistic university students (aged 18-46 years) were instructed to simulate that they were autistic during a psychological assessment (simulation condition; n = 26). These students made more errors on the MENT than those instructed to do their best (control condition; n = 26). In Study 2, we tested how well autistic adults performed on the MENT. We found that clinically diagnosed autistic adults and non-autistic adults (both n = 25; 27-57 years; IQ > 80) performed equally well on the MENT. Moreover, autistic adults made significantly fewer errors than the instructed simulators in Study 1. The MENT reached a specificity of ≥98% (identifying 100% of non-simulators as non-simulator in Study 1 and 98% in Study 2) and a sensitivity of 96% (identifying 96% of simulators as simulator). Together these findings provide the first empirical evidence for the validity of the MENT as a potential PVT for autism-related cognitive difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke M Scheeren
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Linda Olde Dubbelink
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne Geeke Lever
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, autism clinic, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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10
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Groenman AP, van der Oord S, Geurts HM. Navigating adolescence: pubertal development in autism spectrum conditions and its relation to mental health. Arch Womens Ment Health 2024:10.1007/s00737-023-01414-0. [PMID: 38225364 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-023-01414-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is a period of social, psychological, and physiological change, including the onset of puberty. Differential pubertal onset has been linked to a myriad of problems, including mental health problems. Therefore, we aim to investigate deviating pubertal development in autism, and whether this is more pronounced in girls than in boys. A total of 68 individuals (nASC = 34, nCOM (comparisons) = 34) aged 12 to 16 years were administered test concerning pubertal development and mental health (i.e., sensory sensitivity, autistic traits, depression, anxiety, and externalizing problems). Frequentist and Bayesian ANOVA was used to examine deviations in pubertal development in ASC and possible sex effects. Regression analyses was used to test whether this asynchronicity was linked to mental health problems. Our (frequentist and Bayesian) analyses revealed earlier onset and slower development of pubertal development in ASC but we did not find any sex differences. Maturation disparity was linked to higher mental health problems in ASC, but not in COM. No sex differences in the relation with mental health outcomes was found. We found evidence for a slower development of "true" puberty in those with ASC compared to those without. Moreover, we show that disparities in pubertal development are related to mental health in ASC, suggesting a greater impact on mental health in autistic than in non-autistic teens. Longitudinal studies are necessary to elucidate important developmental trajectories in puberty in neurodiverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis, Youz/Parnassiagroep, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Deserno MK, Bathelt J, Groenman AP, Geurts HM. Probing the overarching continuum theory: data-driven phenotypic clustering of children with ASD or ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 32:1909-1923. [PMID: 35687205 PMCID: PMC10533623 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-01986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The clinical validity of the distinction between ADHD and ASD is a longstanding discussion. Recent advances in the realm of data-driven analytic techniques now enable us to formally investigate theories aiming to explain the frequent co-occurrence of these neurodevelopmental conditions. In this study, we probe different theoretical positions by means of a pre-registered integrative approach of novel classification, subgrouping, and taxometric techniques in a representative sample (N = 434), and replicate the results in an independent sample (N = 219) of children (ADHD, ASD, and typically developing) aged 7-14 years. First, Random Forest Classification could predict diagnostic groups based on questionnaire data with limited accuracy-suggesting some remaining overlap in behavioral symptoms between them. Second, community detection identified four distinct groups, but none of them showed a symptom profile clearly related to either ADHD or ASD in neither the original sample nor the replication sample. Third, taxometric analyses showed evidence for a categorical distinction between ASD and typically developing children, a dimensional characterization of the difference between ADHD and typically developing children, and mixed results for the distinction between the diagnostic groups. We present a novel framework of cutting-edge statistical techniques which represent recent advances in both the models and the data used for research in psychiatric nosology. Our results suggest that ASD and ADHD cannot be unambiguously characterized as either two separate clinical entities or opposite ends of a spectrum, and highlight the need to study ADHD and ASD traits in tandem.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Deserno
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.
| | - J Bathelt
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
| | - A P Groenman
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis, Amsterdam (Youz, Parnassiagroep), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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Radhoe TA, van Rentergem JAA, Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, van der Putten WJ, Geurts HM. Comparison of network structures between autistic and non-autistic adults, and autism subgroups: A focus on demographic, psychological, and lifestyle factors. Autism 2023:13623613231198544. [PMID: 37776020 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231198544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT There are large differences in the level of demographic, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics between autistic and non-autistic adults but also among autistic people. Our goal was to test whether these differences correspond to differences in underlying relationships between these characteristics-also referred to as network structure-to determine which characteristics (and relationships between them) are important. We tested differences in network structure in (1) autistic and non-autistic adults and (2) two previously identified subgroups of autistic adults. We showed that comparing networks of autistic and non-autistic adults provides subtle differences, whereas networks of the autism subgroups were similar. There were also no sex differences in the networks of the autism subgroups. Thus, the previously observed differences in the level of characteristics did not correspond to differences across subgroups in how these characteristics relate to one another (i.e. network structure). Consequently, a focus on differences in characteristics is not sufficient to determine which characteristics (and relationships between them) are of importance. Hence, network analysis provides a valuable tool beyond looking at (sub)group level differences. These results could provide hints for clinical practice, to eventually determine whether psychological distress, cognitive failures, and reduced quality of life in autistic adults can be addressed by tailored support. However, it is important that these results are first replicated before we move toward intervention or support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wikke J van der Putten
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Groep), The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Groep), The Netherlands
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13
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Lever AG, Ridderinkhof KR, Geurts HM. Prepotent response inhibition in autism: Not an inhibitory deficit? Cortex 2023; 166:275-285. [PMID: 37437321 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Research outcomes on prepotent response inhibition in neurodevelopmental conditions during adulthood seem inconsistent, especially in autism. To gain further insight in these inconsistencies, the current study investigates inhibitory performance, as well as task strategies such as adaptive behavior during inhibitory tasks in autistic adults. As Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often co-occurring in autism and associated with differences in both inhibition and adaptation, the role of ADHD symptoms is explored. Additionally, prior research is extended to middle- and late-adulthood, and the role of cognitive aging is assessed. Hundred-and-five autistic adults and 139 non-autistic adults (age: 20-80 yrs) were compared on a Go-NoGo task. No significant group differences in inhibitory difficulties (commission errors) or adaptation (post error slowing) were observed, and both did not relate significantly to ADHD symptoms. However, when controlling for reaction time autistic individuals made significantly more inhibitory errors than non-autistic individuals, yet the effect size was modest (Cohen's d = .27). Exploratory analyses showed that adaption significantly related to inhibition in non-autistic individuals only, possibly hinting at altered adaptive behavior during inhibitory tasks in autistic adults. ADHD symptoms related to response variability in the autism group only. Furthermore, task strategy changed with older age in both groups, with slower and more cautious responses at older age. Taken together, although minor differences may exist, autistic and non-autistic people show largely similar patterns of inhibitory behavior throughout adulthood. Differences in task timing and strategy seem relevant for future longitudinal studies on cognitive aging across neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolien Torenvliet
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne G Lever
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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14
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Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, van der Putten WJ, Geurts HM. Finding Similarities in Differences Between Autistic Adults: Two Replicated Subgroups. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06042-2. [PMID: 37438586 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06042-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Autism is heterogeneous, which complicates providing tailored support and future prospects. We aim to identify subgroups in autistic adults with average to high intelligence, to clarify if certain subgroups might need support. We included 14 questionnaire variables related to aging and/or autism (e.g., demographic, psychological, and lifestyle). Community detection analysis was used for subgroup identification in an original sample of 114 autistic adults with an adulthood diagnosis (autism) and 58 non-autistic adults as comparison group (COMP), and a replication sample (NAutism = 261; NCOMP = 287), both aged 30-89 years. Next, we identified subgroups and assessed external validity (for cognitive and psychological difficulties, and quality of life [QoL]) in the autism samples. To test specificity, we repeated the analysis after adding 123 adults with ADHD, aged 30-80 years. As expected, the autism and COMP groups formed distinct subgroups. Among autistic adults, we identified three subgroups of which two were replicated. One of these subgroups seemed most vulnerable on the cluster variables; this subgroup also reported the most cognitive and psychological difficulties, and lowest QoL. Adding the ADHD group did not alter results. Within autistic adults, one subgroup could especially benefit from support and specialized care, although this must be tested in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulsi A Radhoe
- Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carolien Torenvliet
- Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Research Institute for Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wikke J van der Putten
- Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroep), Overschiestraat 57, 1062 HN, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroep), Overschiestraat 57, 1062 HN, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Fossum IN, Orm S, Andersen PN, Geurts HM, Øie MG, Skogli EW. Childhood Executive Function Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Emerging Adults With and Without Autism: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study. Dev Neuropsychol 2023; 48:97-111. [PMID: 37154789 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2023.2206663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing individuals were assessed on three neuropsychological tests of executive function (EF) and on scales of autism symptoms and co-occurring internalizing and externalizing symptoms at baseline (T1; N = 88, Mage = 11.8 years, 73% males), 2-year (T2; 99% retention, Mage = 13.9 years), and 10-year follow-ups (T3; 75% retention, Mage = 21.4 years). An EF composite score from T1 significantly predicted internalizing symptoms at T2 (β = .228) and internalizing and externalizing symptoms at T3 (β = .431 and .478, respectively), when controlling for age and autism symptoms. OThe findings suggest that EF difficulties are a long-term risk factor for more co-occurring symptoms. .
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Nesdal Fossum
- Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stian Orm
- Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Per Normann Andersen
- Department of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Division of Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Merete Glenne Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Erik Winther Skogli
- Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
- Department of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
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16
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Van der Putten WJ, Geurts HM. A longitudinal study on cognitive aging in autism. Psychiatry Res 2023; 321:115063. [PMID: 36709700 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Longitudinal studies on cognitive aging in autism are scarce, and largely underpowered, yet essential to obtain more conclusive results on cognitive changes in autism during adulthood. In the largest longitudinal study on cognition thus far, we aimed to get more insight into cognitive aging in autism. As pre-registered, we computed reliable change indices (RCIs) and multilevel models to estimate cognitive changes in 128 autistic, and 112 non-autistic adults (range: 24-85 yrs.) over two to three timepoints (average interval: 3.5 yrs.). Participants were tested on 15 outcome measures, covering verbal memory, visual (working) memory, prospective memory, theory of mind, fluency, response speed, inhibition, planning, and switching. RCIs showed no significant differences between groups (autism/no-autism) in changes over time. Using multilevel models, most tasks showed sensitivity to cross-sectional age-related effects, and/or longitudinal changes, with worse performance at older age, and later timepoints. However, effects were not significantly different between the autism and no-autism group. This lack of group differences was substantiated by additional Bayesian analyses. In sum, the current study provides evidence for parallel (similar) cognitive aging in autism. Specifically, autistic individuals diagnosed in adulthood, without intellectual disability, do not seem at risk for accelerated cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Torenvliet
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - A P Groenman
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - T A Radhoe
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J A Agelink van Rentergem
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W J Van der Putten
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Leo Kannerhuis, autism clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Leo Kannerhuis, autism clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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17
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Deserno MK, Fuhrmann D, Begeer S, Borsboom D, Geurts HM, Kievit RA. Longitudinal development of language and fine motor skills is correlated, but not coupled, in a childhood atypical cohort. Autism 2023; 27:133-144. [PMID: 35470698 PMCID: PMC9806469 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221086448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT More and more members of the autistic community and the research field are moving away from the idea that there will be a single biological or cognitive explanation for autistic characteristics. However, little is known about the complex dynamic processes that could explain why early difficulties in the language and motor domain often go hand-in-hand. We here study how language and motor skills develop simultaneously in the British Autism Study of Infant Siblings cohort of infants, and compare the way they are linked between children with and without developmental delays. Our results suggest that improvements in one domain go hand-in-hand with improvements in the other in both groups and show no compelling evidence for group differences in how motor skills relate to language and vice versa. We did observe a larger diversity in motor and language skills at 6 months, and because we found the motor and language development to be tightly linked, this suggests that even very small early impairments can result in larger developmental delays in later childhood. Greater variability at baseline, combined with very strong correlations between the slopes, suggests that dynamic processes may amplify small differences between individuals at 6months to result into large individual differences in autism symptomatology at 36 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K Deserno
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT, The
Netherlands,University of Amsterdam, The
Netherlands,Max Planck Institute for Human
Development, Germany,Marie K Deserno, Max Planck Institute for
Human Development, Postbus 15933, Amsterdam, 1001 NK, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT, The
Netherlands,University of Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
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18
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Abstract
There are currently no old-age specific interventions for autistic adults. Therefore, in this explorative study, we examined the possible effects of a co-designed psychoeducation program for older autistic adults (55+ years), with a multiple case study design ( N = 9, age 56–73 years; Netherlands Trial Register (code Trial NL5670)). For each participant, also a person close to them (a proxy) participated. This allowed us to calculate a discrepancy score regarding autistic traits and cognitive challenges. The main hypothesis was that our program, delivered after general psychoeducation, would result in a discrepancy reduction between self and proxy reports. However, contrary to our hypothesis, we observed neither intervention effects on our primary outcome measures (discrepancy scores) nor the secondary outcome measures (mastery, self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-stigmatization, quality of life, and hope and future perspectives). Thus, despite co-designing the current intervention, the results were not promising. However, the positive feedback and suggestions of the participants make developing an improved version of a specific psychoeducation program for older autistic adults still a worthwhile pursuit. Lay abstract After receiving an autism diagnosis by a clinician, psychoeducation (i.e. information regarding autism) is often offered. However, older autistic adults (55+ years) may need specific information about the challenges they face in daily life as they are in a specific life phase. A psychoeducation program for this specific age group does not exist yet. We first developed such a program together with autistic adults and clinicians working with autistic people, after which we tested the program with nine autistic adults (56–73 years) and someone close to them (so-called proxy). Before testing the program, we determined together with autistic older adults what they thought should be the outcome of this intervention in order to state whether it was, indeed, a useful intervention. Earlier studies found that autistic people often think differently about their own autistic characteristics than their proxy. A reduction of this difference could increase mutual understanding. Therefore, the main hypothesis was that the program would decrease this difference with respect to autistic characteristics and cognitive challenges (e.g. memory problems). Another hypothesis was that the program would have a positive impact on a series of other factors, such as self-esteem. The results showed that the program did neither decrease the difference in insight nor the other tested factors. Nonetheless, we believe it is important to keep on working on a psychoeducation program for older autistic adults, because participants informed us the program had still helped them in certain ways and they gave helpful feedback for improvements of the program.
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Affiliation(s)
- ER Groenendijk
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- HSK Group, The Netherlands
| | - BFC Van Heijst
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroup), The Netherlands
| | - HM Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroup), The Netherlands
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19
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Vuijk R, Deen M, Geurts HM, Arntz A. Schema therapy for personality disorders in autistic adults: Results of a multiple case series study. Clin Psychol Psychother 2022; 30:458-472. [PMID: 36522138 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To our knowledge, treatment of personality disorder (PD) comorbidity in autistic adults is understudied and is still in its infancy. We investigated the effectiveness of schema therapy (ST) for autistic adults with PD. METHOD A multiple case series design with 12 adults (aged 19-62 years) was used with baseline, exploration, ST (with cognitive behavioural and experiential techniques) and follow-up conditions. Participants rated dysfunctional core beliefs (primary outcome) weekly during baseline and treatment and monthly during follow-up. Schema modes, general mental health symptoms, social responsiveness, PD traits and common Axis-I mental disorders were assessed. RESULTS Mixed model analyses indicated significant effects of ST with medium to large effect sizes for dysfunctional core beliefs, functional schema modes, PD traits, general mental health symptoms and social responsiveness. Results remained stable during follow-up. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that ST might be effective in decreasing dysfunctional core beliefs, PD traits and general mental health symptoms and in increasing functional schema modes and social responsiveness. Improvements persisted over time. ST seems effective in treating PD in autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Vuijk
- Sarr Autism Rotterdam (Parnassia Psychiatric Institute), Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mathijs Deen
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Institute of Psychology, Methodology and Statistics Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kanner Huis (Youz; Parnassia Psychiatric Institute), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud Arntz
- University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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20
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Geurts HM. One size does not fit all: An individualized approach to understand heterogeneous cognitive performance in autistic adults. Autism Res 2022; 16:734-744. [PMID: 36515294 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive performances of autistic people vary widely. Therefore, previous group-based comparisons on cognitive aging in autistic adults might have overlooked those autistic adults that are particularly vulnerable for cognitive decline. Multivariate normative comparisons (MNC) statistically assess individual cognitive differences on the entire cognitive profile. Cognitive deviancy as indicated by MNC accurately predicts future cognitive decline, and is therefore sensitive in detecting meaningful cognitive differences. The current study aimed to (1) investigate the applicability of MNC to assess cognitive performance in autism individually, and (2) understand heterogeneous cognitive performance in autistic adults. As pre-registered, we performed MNC in a sample of 254 non-autistic adults, and two independent samples of respectively 118, and 86 autistic adults (20-85 years, mean: 50 years). Cognitive performance was measured on 11 outcomes in six domains (verbal/visual memory, working memory, verbal fluency, Theory of Mind, and psychomotor speed). Using MNC, about twice as many autistic individuals had a deviant cognitive profile (i.e., deviated statistically from the multivariate normspace) as compared to non-autistic individuals. Importantly, most autistic individuals (>80%) did not have a deviant cognitive profile. Having a deviant profile was significantly associated with higher levels of psychological distress in autistic adults specifically, showing the clinical relevance of this method. Therefore, MNC seem a useful tool to individually detect meaningful cognitive differences in autism. These results are consistent with previous cognitive studies suggesting that most autistic adults show fairly similar cognitive profiles to non-autistic adults, yet highlight the necessity for approaches reflecting the heterogeneity observed in autistic people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolien Torenvliet
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tulsi A Radhoe
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, autism clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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21
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Agelink van Rentergem JA, Bathelt J, Geurts HM. Clinical subtyping using community detection: Limited utility? Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2022:e1951. [PMID: 36415153 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To discover psychiatric subtypes, researchers are adopting a method called community detection. This method was not subjected to the same scrutiny in the psychiatric literature as traditional clustering methods. Furthermore, many community detection algorithms have been developed without psychiatric sample sizes and variable numbers in mind. We aim to provide clarity to researchers on the utility of this method. METHODS We provide an introduction to community detection algorithms, specifically describing the crucial differences between correlation-based and distance-based community detection. We compare community detection results to results of traditional methods in a simulation study representing typical psychiatry settings, using three conceptualizations of how subtypes might differ. RESULTS We discovered that the number of recovered subgroups was often incorrect with several community detection algorithms. Correlation-based community detection fared better than distance-based community detection, and performed relatively well with smaller sample sizes. Latent profile analysis was more consistent in recovering subtypes. Whether methods were successful depended on how differences were introduced. CONCLUSIONS Traditional methods like latent profile analysis remain reasonable choices. Furthermore, results depend on assumptions and theoretical choices underlying subtyping analyses, which researchers need to consider before drawing conclusions on subtypes. Employing multiple subtyping methods to establish method dependency is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joe Bathelt
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Centre (d'Arc), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Groep), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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22
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Heijnen-Kohl SMJ, Hitzert B, Schmidt R, Geurts HM, van Alphen SPJ. Features and Needs of Autistic Older Adults: A Delphi Study of Clinical Experiences. Clin Gerontol 2022:1-11. [PMID: 35426768 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2022.2060157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In geriatric psychiatry Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are increasingly recognized. This study explores what clinicians know about diagnostic and/or therapeutic aspects of autistic older adults and how aging plays a role in the course of ASD. METHODS A Delphi study outlines the point of view of 11 clinical experts in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). RESULTS Regarding diagnostics, age-specific aspects need to be considered. Age-related characteristics (cognitive differences, life events, co-occurring conditions) influence detecting autistic features in older adults. Regarding treatment, counseling methods need to be adapted. Psychoeducation, family therapy, couples therapy, behavioral counseling and psychopharmaca can be helpful in meeting the needs of autistic older adults. There was no consensus on the effects of aging on autistic older adults. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis and treatment of ASD need adaptation for autistic older adults. Further research is needed on the validation of measurement tools, recorded treatment, therapy, psychoeducation, and the effects of aging among people on the autism spectrum. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Available knowledge helps clinicians to detect ASD in older adults and adapt to the specific features and needs of autistic older adults. The effects of aging on the course of ASD are unclear yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M J Heijnen-Kohl
- Clinical psychologist/psychotherapist and director at Mondriaan geriatric mental health care in Heerlen-Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - B Hitzert
- Psychiatrist, BuurtzorgT, The Netherlands
| | - R Schmidt
- Geriatric Psychiatrist, The Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Psychology Department, University of Amsterdam; and senior researcher at the Dr. Leo Kannerhuis national autism expertise centre, The Netherlands
| | - S P J van Alphen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, The Netherlands; and health care psychologist and manager at Mondriaan geriatric mental health care in Heerlen-Maastricht, The Netherlands
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23
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van den Heuvel RM, Wensing M, Geurts HM, Teunisse JP. The Social Support Network of Adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition: An Exploration Using the Network in Action-Questionnaire. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:1974-1988. [PMID: 35182260 PMCID: PMC10123042 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05467-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Actively involving the network during treatment, as recommended in Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) guidelines, can be facilitated with the Network in Action-Questionnaire (NiA-Q), which identifies the current and potential sources of social support. The aims of this study were to (1) examine the factor structure of the NiA-Q and (2) to explore the self- and proxy-report on the social network. Before the start of treatment in a mental health institution, 193 adults with an ASC diagnosis and 84 proxies completed the NiA-Q. Factor analysis showed two factors: positive social support and interpersonal distress. Self- and proxy-report on the NiA-Q did not differ for most variables, except for social network wishes. The NiA-Q provides a basis for network involvement and strengthening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinske M van den Heuvel
- Leo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Stationsweg 49, 6861 EE, Oosterbeek, The Netherlands. .,HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Michel Wensing
- General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Leo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Stationsweg 49, 6861 EE, Oosterbeek, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan-Pieter Teunisse
- Leo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Stationsweg 49, 6861 EE, Oosterbeek, The Netherlands.,HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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24
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Groenman AP, van der Werf S, Geurts HM. Subjective cognition in adults with common psychiatric classifications; a systematic review. Psychiatry Res 2022; 308:114374. [PMID: 34995830 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim is to assess whether instruments developed to measure subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) and in neurology and aging can reliably be used in ADHD and other common psychiatric classifications. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE+EMBASE CLASSIC were searched for relevant work on SCCs in psychiatric classifications (ADHD, autism, mood disorders, schizophrenia) in two phases: 1 identify instruments, 2 relevant studies. 35 studies with varying study quality were included. SCCs are most commonly studied in ADHD and mood disorders, but are found in all psychiatric classifications. SCCs show inconsistent and low associations to objective cognition across disorders, but higher and consistent relations are found with behavioral outcomes. SCCs are not qualitatively different for ADHD compared to other psychiatric classifications, and should thus not be seen as analogous to well validated measures of objective cognition. However, SCCs do reflect suffering, behavioral difficulties and problems experienced by across those with psychiatric problems in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, Univeersity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Sieberen van der Werf
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Dept Medical Psychology, Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, Univeersity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, autism clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, Netherlands
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25
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Abstract
Psychotic and autistic symptoms are related to social functioning in individuals with psychotic disorders (PD). The present study used a network approach to (1) evaluate the interactions between autistic symptoms, psychotic symptoms, and social functioning, and (2) investigate whether relations are similar in individuals with and without PD. We estimated an undirected network model in a sample of 504 PD, 572 familial risk for psychosis (FR), and 337 typical comparisons (TC), with a mean age of 34.9 years. Symptoms were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ; 5 nodes) and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE; 9 nodes). Social functioning was measured with the Social Functioning Scale (SFS; 7 nodes). We identified statistically significant differences between the FR and PD samples in global strength (P < .001) and network structure (P < .001). Our results show autistic symptoms (social interaction nodes) are negatively and more closely related to social functioning (withdrawal, interpersonal behavior) than psychotic symptoms. More and stronger connections between nodes were observed for the PD network than for FR and TC networks, while the latter 2 were similar in density (P = .11) and network structure (P = .19). The most central items in strength for PD were bizarre experiences, social skills, and paranoia. In conclusion, specific autistic symptoms are negatively associated with social functioning across the psychosis spectrum, but in the PD network symptoms may reinforce each other more easily. These findings emphasize the need for increased clinical awareness of comorbid autistic symptoms in psychotic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela-Maria Isvoranu
- Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tim Ziermans
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Cognition, Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d’Arc), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frederike Schirmbeck
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Denny Borsboom
- Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Cognition, Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d’Arc), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieuwe de Haan
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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26
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Abstract
Face recognition is a fundamental function that requires holistic processing. Differences in face processing have been consistently identified in autistic children, but it is unknown whether these differences persist across the adult lifespan. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured holistic face processing with a rapid Mooney faces task in 50 autistic and 49 non-autistic participants (30–74 years). Behavioral tasks included a self-paced version of the same paradigm and a global–local processing task (Navon). Reduced detection rates for faces, but not non-faces, were found in autistic adults, including slower responses on all conditions. Without time constraints, differences in accuracy disappeared between groups, although reaction times in correctly identifying faces remained higher in autistic adults. The functional magnetic resonance imaging results showed lower activation in the left and right superior frontal gyrus in the autism group but no age-related differences. Overall, our findings point toward slower information processing speed rather than a face recognition deficit in autistic adults. This suggests that face-processing differences are not a core feature of autism across the adult lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Bathelt
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, Youz/Parnassiagroup, The Netherlands
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27
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Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Kok AAL, Huisman M, Geurts HM. Subgroups in Late Adulthood Are Associated With Cognition and Wellbeing Later in Life. Front Psychol 2021; 12:780575. [PMID: 34925184 PMCID: PMC8671814 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.780575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: In this study, we aim to discover whether there are valid subgroups in aging that are defined by modifiable factors and are determinant of clinically relevant outcomes regarding healthy aging. Method: Data from interviews were collected in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam at two measurement occasions with a 3-year interval. Input for the analyses were seven well-known vulnerability and protective factors of healthy aging. By means of community detection, we tested whether we could distinguish subgroups in a sample of 1478 participants (T1-sample, aged 61–101 years). We tested both the external validity (T1) and predictive validity (T2) for wellbeing and subjective cognitive decline. Moreover, replicability and long-term stability were determined in 1186 participants (T2-sample, aged 61–101 years). Results: Three similar subgroups were identified at T1 and T2. Subgroup A was characterized by high levels of education with personal vulnerabilities, subgroup B by being physically active with low support and low levels of education, and subgroup C by high levels of support with low levels of education. Subgroup C showed the lowest wellbeing and memory profile, both at T1 and T2. On most measures of wellbeing and memory, subgroups A and B did not differ from each other. At T2, the same number of subgroups was identified and subgroup profiles at T1 and T2 were practically identical. Per T1 subgroup 47–62% retained their membership at T2. Discussion: We identified valid subgroups that replicate over time and differ on external variables at current and later measurement occasions. Individual change in subgroup membership over time shows that transitions to subgroups with better outcomes are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulsi A Radhoe
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Almar A L Kok
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC - Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Martijn Huisman
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC - Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Sociology, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassia Groep), Amsterdam, Netherlands
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28
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Bathelt J, Geurts HM, Borsboom D. More than the sum of its parts: Merging network psychometrics and
network neuroscience with application in autism. Netw Neurosci 2021; 6:445-466. [PMID: 35733421 PMCID: PMC9207995 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Network approaches that investigate the interaction between symptoms and behaviours have opened new ways of understanding psychological phenomena in health and disorder in recent years. In parallel, network approaches that characterise the interaction between brain regions have become the dominant approach in neuroimaging research. In this paper, we introduce a methodology for combining network psychometrics and network neuroscience. This approach utilises the information from the psychometric network to obtain neural correlates that are associated with each node in the psychometric network (network-based regression). Moreover, we combine the behavioural variables and their neural correlates in a joint network to characterise their interactions. We illustrate the approach by highlighting the interaction between the triad of autistic traits and their resting-state functional connectivity associations. To this end, we utilise data from 172 male autistic participants (10–21 years) from the autism brain data exchange (ABIDE, ABIDE-II) that completed resting-state fMRI and were assessed using the autism diagnostic interview (ADI-R). Our results indicate that the network-based regression approach can uncover both unique and shared neural correlates of behavioural measures. For instance, our example analysis indicates that the overlap between communication and social difficulties is not reflected in the overlap between their functional brain correlates. The article introduces a method to combine common practices in network psychometrics and network neuroimaging. Namely, we use the unique variance in behavioural measures as regressors to identify unique neural correlates. This enables the description of brain-level and behavioural-level data into a joint network while keeping the dimensionality of the results manageable and interpretable. We illustrate this approach by showing the network of autistic traits and their correlates in resting-state functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Bathelt
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam
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29
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Van der Putten WJ, Geurts HM. Parallel age-related cognitive effects in autism: A cross-sectional replication study. Autism Res 2021; 15:507-518. [PMID: 34862853 PMCID: PMC9300037 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Findings on age-related cognitive effects in autism in adulthood are inconsistent across studies. As these studies substantially differ in their methodology, replication studies are needed. In this replication study frequentist (i.e., null-hypothesis significance testing), and Bayesian statistics were used to investigate the hypothesis that in autistic adults compared to non-autistic adults mostly parallel, but also protective age-related cognitive effects can be observed. Participants were 88 autistic adults, and 88 non-autistic matched comparisons (age range: 30-89 years, mean age: 55 years). Cognitive measures were administered on the following six domains: verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, Theory of Mind (ToM), verbal fluency, and processing speed, and self-reported cognitive failures. Non-autistic adults outperformed autistic adults on ToM, verbal fluency, and verbal memory, but only the first two were confirmed with Bayesian replication analyses. Also, more cognitive failures were reported by autistic adults. No interactions between group and age were observed, suggesting a parallel age-related effect on all cognitive domains. In sum, previously observed difficulties in ToM and verbal fluency were replicated which seem to persist at older age. Previously reported parallel age-related cognitive patterns were replicated, yet no evidence for protective age-related patterns was found. LAY SUMMARY: We investigated whether our previous findings on cognitive aging in autism could be confirmed in a new study measuring the cognitive effects of age in autistic and non-autistic adults. As expected, tasks that younger autistic adults had difficulties with (theory of mind, fluency) were also difficult for older autistic adults, and the effect of age itself was similar in autistic and non-autistic adults. Unexpectedly, we observed no protective effects (less cognitive aging) in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolien Torenvliet
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tulsi A Radhoe
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wikke J Van der Putten
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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30
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Groenman AP, Torenvliet C, Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Geurts HM. Menstruation and menopause in autistic adults: Periods of importance? Autism 2021; 26:1563-1572. [PMID: 34825585 PMCID: PMC9344571 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211059721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum conditions were once seen as a predominantly male condition. This
has caused a paucity of information on common events in the lives of women, such
as menstruation and menopause. Some smaller studies indicate that autistic women
might suffer from increased difficulties surrounding these events. This study
aims to investigate whether autistic women experience more frequent premenstrual
dysphoric disorder, and increased complaints surrounding menopause. In partly
overlapping samples (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, n = 70,
nASC = 28,
ncomparisons = 42; menopause,
n = 65, nASC = 30,
ncomparisons = 35), we investigated premenstrual
dysphoric disorder prevalence and menopausal complaints. In 70 individuals, we
did not find an increased prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in
autistic women (14.3%) compared with non-autistic women (9.5%). In 65 women aged
40 years and above, we found that autistic women did experience higher levels of
menopausal complaints. In autistic women, higher menopausal complaints were
associated with higher levels of depression and autistic traits. In non-autistic
women, menopausal complaints were associated with increased inattention,
hyperactivity/impulsivity (i.e. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
traits), and depression. With this work, we show the important role that major
reproductive milestones can have in an autistic woman’s life.
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31
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Op den Kelder R, Van den Akker AL, Ensink JBM, Geurts HM, Overbeek G, de Rooij SR, Vrijkotte TGM, Lindauer RJL. Longitudinal Associations Between Trauma Exposure and Executive Functions in Children: Findings from a Dutch Birth Cohort Study. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2021; 50:295-308. [PMID: 34482489 PMCID: PMC8885557 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00847-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This study is the first to distinguish two possible predictive directions between trauma exposure and executive functioning in children in a community sample. The sample consists of 1006 children from two time points with a seven years’ time interval of a longitudinal Dutch birth cohort study, the ABCD-study (Van Eijsden et al., 2011). We analyzed the longitudinal associations between trauma exposure and executive functioning using structural equation modeling. The results demonstrated that (after controlling for prenatal substance exposure and mothers’ educational level) trauma exposure before age 5 is predictive of poorer executive functioning at age 12 and trauma exposure between age 6 and 12. However, the association between executive functioning at age 5 and trauma exposure between age 6 and 12 was not statistically significant. Our results indicate that early life trauma exposure has a long term impact on later executive functioning and not the other way around. On top of that, trauma exposure seems to accumulate across childhood when children are exposed to a traumatic event before the age of 5. When looking at the potential moderating role of parenting behavior we found no evidence for such a moderating effect of parenting behavior. Our findings showed that children exposed to trauma early in life may experience problems in executive functioning later in life and they seem at higher risk for cumulative trauma exposure. Clinical practice should take this into account in both the way they provide (early) mental health care and in prevention and recognition of early trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Op den Kelder
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Levvel Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - A L Van den Akker
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education/Research Priority Area YIELD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J B M Ensink
- Levvel Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Department of Psychology (Brain and Cognition)/ Research Priority Area YIELD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Overbeek
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education/Research Priority Area YIELD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S R de Rooij
- Department of Public Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bio-Informatics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T G M Vrijkotte
- Department of Public Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R J L Lindauer
- Levvel Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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32
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Vuijk R, Deen M, Arntz A, Geurts HM. First Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Interview for Diagnostic Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adult Males Without Intellectual Disability. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:3523-3535. [PMID: 34409554 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05225-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
For autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults there are several diagnostic instruments available with a need for consideration of the psychometric properties. This study aimed to conduct a first psychometric evaluation of a new diagnostic ASD instrument, the NIDA (Dutch Interview for Diagnostic assessment of ASD in adults) in 90 adult males without intellectual disability (age 18-65 years) in the Netherlands: 30 with ASD, 30 with a Personality Disorder and 30 nonpatient controls. The interrater agreement ranged from 0.79 to 1.00, the convergent validity including sensitivity and specificity ranged from 0.76 to 1.00, and we observed an adequate concurrent criterion-related validity. These promising findings can serve as foundation for future psychometric NIDA studies in a more diverse population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR6391. Registered 04 May 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Vuijk
- Sarr Autism Rotterdam (Parnassia Psychiatric Institute), Dynamostraat 18, 3083 AK, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Mathijs Deen
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Kiwistraat 32, 2552 DH, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Institute of Psychology, Methodology and Statistics Unit, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud Arntz
- University of Amsterdam, Postbus 15933, 1001 NK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, Postbus 15933, 1001 NK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dr. Leo Kanner Huis, Youz, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Derkinderenstraat 10-18, 1062 DB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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33
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Ziermans TB, Schirmbeck F, Oosterwijk F, Geurts HM, de Haan L. Autistic traits in psychotic disorders: prevalence, familial risk, and impact on social functioning. Psychol Med 2021; 51:1704-1713. [PMID: 32151297 PMCID: PMC8327624 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720000458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevalence estimates of autistic traits in individuals with psychotic disorders (PD) vary greatly and it is unclear whether individuals with a familial risk (FR) for psychosis have an increased propensity to display autistic traits. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the presence of comorbid autism traits disproportionally affects the cognitive and behavioral aspects of social functioning in PD. METHODS In total, 504 individuals with PD, 587 unaffected siblings with FR, and 337 typical comparison (TC) individuals (16-50 years) were included. Autistic and psychotic traits were measured with the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). Social cognition was assessed with the Picture Sequencing Task (PST) and social behavior with the Social Functioning Scale (SFS). RESULTS For PD 6.5% scored above AQ clinical cut-off (⩾32), 1.0% for FR, and 1.2% for TC. After accounting for age, sex, and IQ, the PD group showed significantly more autistic traits and alterations in social behavior and cognition, while FR and TC only displayed marginal differences. Within the PD group autistic traits were a robust predictor of social behavior and there were no interactions with positive psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Levels of autistic traits are substantially elevated in PD and have a profoundly negative association with social functioning. In contrast, autistic traits above the clinical cut-off are not elevated in those with FR, and only marginally on a dimensional level. These findings warrant specific clinical guidelines for psychotic patients who present themselves with autistic comorbidity to help address their social needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim B. Ziermans
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frederike Schirmbeck
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Arkin Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hilde M. Geurts
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieuwe de Haan
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Arkin Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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34
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Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autistic adults without a suspected intellectual disability reported several motor features such as having tremors, and stiffness in one's legs which are considered to be part of a complex of motor features called parkinsonism. This so-called parkinsonism was remarkably prevalent in middle-aged and older autistic adults in two independent studies (Dutch study: 50-81 years, 183 males, 113 females, all adulthood diagnoses; the USA study: 50-83 years, 110 females, 109 males, majority adulthood diagnosis). Parkinsonism can be part of the progressive motor disease-Parkinson's disease. Therefore, it is important that future studies, including in-person neurological assessment, determine if (and if so, why) autistic adults who report these motor features are at increased risk for developing Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroup), The Netherlands
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35
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Tamminga HGH, Reneman L, Schrantee A, Bottelier MA, Bouziane C, Geurts HM, Groenman AP. Do effects of methylphenidate on cognitive performance last beyond treatment? A randomized placebo-controlled trial in boys and men with ADHD. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 46:1-13. [PMID: 33735707 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Methylphenidate (MPH) is the first-choice pharmacological treatment for treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan. However, it is unclear whether MPH affects cognitive development, while recent (pre-) clinical studies suggest effects on the developing brain. The present randomized, placebo-controlled trial aims to determine whether MPH has short-term, age-dependent effects on cognitive performance in ADHD after a 1-week washout. Effects of 16 weeks MPH treatment were assessed after a one-week washout on cognitive functioning. Boys (age=10-12) and men (age=23-40) with ADHD were assigned to MPH treatment (boys n=25, men n=24) or placebo (boys n=25, men n=24). Outcome measures were working memory, response inhibition, response speed, episodic memory, and delay aversion. Differences in task performances over time (pre-, mid-, and post-treatment, following a 1-week wash-out) were compared between age and treatment conditions with mixed ANOVAs. MPH improved working memory and response speed, but only during treatment. No lasting age*treatment effects were observed post intervention. Overall, the results from the present randomized, placebo-controlled trial show that the effects of MPH on cognition do not extend past treatment in children or adults. While treatment with MPH improves cognition during treatment, these effects appear transient after 16-weeks of treatment. (Title trial: "Effects of methylphenidate on the developing brain"; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=3103).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyke G H Tamminga
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe achtergracht 129, 1018 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Reneman
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk Schrantee
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marco A Bottelier
- Center for child- and adolescent psychiatry Triversum, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
| | - Cheima Bouziane
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe achtergracht 129, 1018 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Research Priority Area Yield, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe achtergracht 129, 1018 Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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36
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Agelink van Rentergem JA, Deserno MK, Geurts HM. Validation strategies for subtypes in psychiatry: A systematic review of research on autism spectrum disorder. Clin Psychol Rev 2021; 87:102033. [PMID: 33962352 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity within autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is recognized as a challenge to both biological and psychological research, as well as clinical practice. To reduce unexplained heterogeneity, subtyping techniques are often used to establish more homogeneous subtypes based on metrics of similarity and dissimilarity between people. We review the ASD literature to create a systematic overview of the subtyping procedures and subtype validation techniques that are used in this field. We conducted a systematic review of 156 articles (2001-June 2020) that subtyped participants (range N of studies = 17-20,658), of which some or all had an ASD diagnosis. We found a large diversity in (parametric and non-parametric) methods and (biological, psychological, demographic) variables used to establish subtypes. The majority of studies validated their subtype results using variables that were measured concurrently, but were not included in the subtyping procedure. Other investigations into subtypes' validity were rarer. In order to advance clinical research and the theoretical and clinical usefulness of identified subtypes, we propose a structured approach and present the SUbtyping VAlidation Checklist (SUVAC), a checklist for validating subtyping results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, the Netherlands.
| | - Marie K Deserno
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, the Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, the Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, the Netherlands
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Geurts HM, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Radhoe T, Torenvliet C, Van der Putten WJ, Groenman AP. Ageing and heterogeneity regarding autism spectrum conditions: a protocol paper of an accelerated longitudinal study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e040943. [PMID: 33789848 PMCID: PMC8016100 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) develop early in life and are thought to last a lifetime. However, ASC research has two major knowledge gaps that hinder progression in understanding the concept of ASC and in providing proper support for autistic adults: (1) the majority of knowledge about ASC mainly stems from childhood studies so little is known about older autistic adults and (2) while it is broadly recognised that ASC is a heterogeneous condition, we do not yet understand the differences in trajectories leading to their future outcome. We aim to fill both knowledge gaps. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A multistage overlapping cohort design assessing (cognitive) ageing in ASC is designed to obtain an accelerated longitudinal data set. Data, including a multitude of questionnaires, diagnostics and cognitive tests, are collected over four waves within a 10-year time frame. This will provide information regarding actual changes in quality of life, co-occurring health conditions and cognition as well as the possibility to test external validity and temporal stability in newly formed behavioural subtypes. Participants consist of three groups of adults aged 20-90 years: (1) with a clinical diagnosis of ASC, (2) with a clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but no ASC, (3) no ASC/ADHD (ie, comparison group). The sample size differs between waves and instruments. Detailed analysis plans will be preregistered in AsPredicted or at the Open Science Framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the ethical review board of the Department of Psychology of the University of Amsterdam (wave 1 2011-PN-1952 and 2013-PN-2668, wave 2 2015-BC-4270, waves 3 and 4 2018-BC-9285). In line with the funding policies of the grant organisation funding this study, future papers will be published open access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde M Geurts
- Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tulsi Radhoe
- Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wikke J Van der Putten
- Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Leo Kannerhuis (Youz), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Neuroimaging research has identified a network of brain regions that are more active when we daydream compared to when we are engaged in a task. This network has been named the default mode network. Furthermore, differences in the default mode network are the most consistent findings in neuroimaging research in autism. Recent studies suggest that the default mode network is composed of subnetworks that are tied to different functions, namely memory and understanding others' minds. In this study, we investigated if default mode network differences in autism are related to specific subnetworks of the default mode network and if these differences change across childhood and adolescence. Our results suggest that the subnetworks of the default mode network are less differentiated in autism in middle childhood compared to neurotypicals. By late adolescence, the default mode network subnetwork organisation was similar in the autistic and neurotypical groups. These findings provide a foundation for future studies to investigate if this developmental pattern relates to improvements in the integration of memory and social understanding as autistic children grow up.
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Deserno MK, Borsboom D, Begeer S, van Bork R, Hinne M, Geurts HM. Highways to happiness for autistic adults? Perceived causal relations among clinicians. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243298. [PMID: 33320901 PMCID: PMC7737981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243298] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The network approach to psychological phenomena advances our understanding of the interrelations between autism and well-being. We use the Perceived Causal Relations methodology in order to (i) identify perceived causal pathways in the well-being system, (ii) validate networks based on self-report data, and (iii) quantify and integrate clinical expertise in autism research. Trained clinicians served as raters (N = 29) completing 374 cause-effects ratings of 34 variables on well-being and symptomatology. A subgroup (N = 16) of raters chose intervention targets in the resulting network which we found to match the respective centrality of nodes. Clinicians' perception of causal relations was similar to the interrelatedness found in self-reported client data (N = 323). We present a useful tool for translating clinical expertise into quantitative information enabling future research to integrate this in scientific studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K. Deserno
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Denny Borsboom
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sander Begeer
- Section Clinical Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Riet van Bork
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Max Hinne
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M. Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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40
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Groot IZ, Lever AG, Koolschijn PC, Geurts HM. Brief Report: Using Cognitive Screeners in Autistic Adults. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:3374-3379. [PMID: 33201420 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04782-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
By comparing 51 autistic adults and 49 age-matched controls (aged 30-73 years) we tested if (1) the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is more sensitive in measuring cognitive impairments than the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and (2) if we can replicate the MoCA-findings of Powell et al. (2017) with the Dutch MoCA(-NL). Results showed that: (1) The MoCA-NL is more sensitive, and (2) like Powell, no group differences were observed on the MoCA-NL. However, in contrast to Powell, we did not observe that older autistic adults show more impairment than controls on the MoCA-NL. Nonetheless, as the MoCA-NL is more sensitive to cognitive impairment, it is the recommended screener for older autistic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuno Z Groot
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Anne G Lever
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dimence, Institute for Mental Health, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - P Cédric Koolschijn
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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41
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Geurts HM, Pol SE, Lobbestael J, Simons CJP. Executive Functioning in 60+ Autistic Males: The Discrepancy Between Experienced Challenges and Cognitive Performance. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:1380-1390. [PMID: 31953573 PMCID: PMC7101290 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04368-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As executive functioning (EF) is especially sensitive to age-related cognitive decline, EF was evaluated by using a multi-method assessment. Fifty males (60-85 years) with a late adulthood autism spectrum condition (ASC) diagnosis and 51 non-ASC males (60-83 years) were compared on cognitive tests across EF domains (cognitive flexibility, planning, processing speed, and working memory) and a self- and proxy report of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version. While no objective performance differences emerged, autistic males and their proxies did report more EF challenges than non-ASC males on the subjective measure. In order to know how to support the older autistic men who received their ASC diagnosis in late adulthood with their daily life EF challenges, it is important to understand what underlies these subjective EF problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 15915, 1001 NK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroup), Autism Clinic, Amstedam, The Netherlands.
| | - S E Pol
- GGzE, Institute for Mental Health Care Eindhoven and De Kempen, Centre for Elderly Psychiatry, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Reinier Van Arkel Group, 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - J Lobbestael
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia J P Simons
- GGzE, Institute for Mental Health Care Eindhoven and De Kempen, Centre for Elderly Psychiatry, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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42
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Bathelt J, Koolschijn PC, Geurts HM. Age-variant and age-invariant features of functional brain organization in middle-aged and older autistic adults. Mol Autism 2020; 11:9. [PMID: 31993112 PMCID: PMC6977283 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-0316-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The majority of research effort into autism has been dedicated to understanding mechanisms during early development. As a consequence, research on the broader life course of an autism spectrum condition (ASC) has largely been neglected and almost nothing is known about ASC beyond middle age. Differences in brain connectivity that arise during early development may be maintained across the lifespan and may play protective or detrimental roles in older age. Method This study explored age-related differences in functional connectivity across middle and older age in clinically diagnosed autistic adults (n = 44, 30-73 years) and in an age-matched typical comparison group (n = 45). Results The results indicated parallel age-related associations in ASC and typical aging for the local efficiency and connection strength of the default mode network and for the segregation of the frontoparietal control network. In contrast, group differences in visual network connectivity are compatible with a safeguarding interpretation of less age-related decline in brain function in ASC. This divergence was mirrored in different associations between visual network connectivity and reaction time variability in the ASC and comparison group. Limitations The study is cross-sectional and may be affected by cohort effects. As all participants received their autism diagnosis in adulthood, this might hinder generalizability. Conclusion These results highlight the complexity of aging in ASC with both parallel and divergent trajectories across different aspects of functional network organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Bathelt
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - P. Cédric Koolschijn
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M. Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands
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43
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Abstract
Autism and depression often co-occur. Through network analysis, we seek to gain a better understanding of this co-occurrence by investigating whether (1) autism and depression share overlapping groups of symptoms and/or (2) are connected through a bridge of mastery or worry symptoms. This is addressed in two complimentary studies: (1) Study 1 focusing on depressed (N = 258) and non-depressed adults (N = 117), aged 60-90 years; (2) Study 2 focusing on autistic (N = 173) and non-autistic adults (N = 70), aged 31-89 years. Self-report questionnaire data were collected on autistic traits (AQ-28), depression symptoms (Study 1: Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report; Study 2: Symptom Checklist 90-Revised depression subscale), worry (Worry Scale-R) and mastery (the Pearlin Mastery Scale). For both studies, data were analysed by creating glasso networks and subsequent centrality analyses to identify the most influential variables in the respective networks. Both depressed and autistic adults are highly similar in the perceived amount of worries and lack of control. While caution is needed when interpreting the pattern of findings given the bootstrapping results, findings from both studies indicate that overlapping symptoms do not fully explain the co-occurrence of autism and depression and the perception of having control over your life, that is, mastery seems a relevant factor in connecting autism and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie K Deserno
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
| | - Didi Rhebergen
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, The Netherlands.,GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
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44
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Kuiper MWM, Verhoeven EWM, Geurts HM. Stop Making Noise! Auditory Sensitivity in Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: Physiological Habituation and Subjective Detection Thresholds. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:2116-2128. [PMID: 30680585 PMCID: PMC6483953 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Auditory sensitivities are common among people with autism spectrum disorder diagnoses (ASD). As underlying factors are unknown, we examined whether ASD adults (NASD = 33; NTypically Developing = 31; 25-45 years; IQ > 70): (1) habituated slower to auditory stimuli; (2) had lower auditory detection thresholds; and (3) whether these mechanisms related to self-reported auditory sensitivities. Two auditory stimuli (tone, siren) were repeated, whilst skin conductance responses were recorded to measure habituation. Detection thresholds were measured by stepwise reductions in tone volume. We found no evidence in favor of our hypotheses, but ASD adults did rate the auditory stimuli as more arousing. Based on explorative analyses, we argue that studying the strength of physiological responses to auditory stimuli is needed to understand auditory sensitivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke W M Kuiper
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Expert Centre, Department of Research, Development & Innovation, Houtsniplaan 1, 6865 XZ, Doorwerth, The Netherlands.
- University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1001 NK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elisabeth W M Verhoeven
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Expert Centre, Department of Research, Development & Innovation, Houtsniplaan 1, 6865 XZ, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Expert Centre, Department of Research, Development & Innovation, Houtsniplaan 1, 6865 XZ, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1001 NK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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45
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Deserno MK, Borsboom D, Begeer S, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Mataw K, Geurts HM. Sleep determines quality of life in autistic adults: A longitudinal study. Autism Res 2019; 12:794-801. [PMID: 30969026 PMCID: PMC6593837 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [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: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Many individuals with autism report generally low quality of life (QoL). Identifying predictors for pathways underlying this outcome is an urgent priority. We aim to examine multivariate patterns that predict later subjective and objective QoL in autistic individuals. Autistic characteristics, comorbid complaints, aspects of daily functioning, and demographics were assessed online in a 2-year longitudinal study with 598 autistic adults. Regression trees were fitted to baseline data to identify factors that could predict QoL at follow-up. We found that sleep problems are an important predictor of later subjective QoL, while the subjective experience of a person's societal contribution is important when it comes to predicting the level of daily activities. Sleep problems are the most important predictor of QoL in autistic adults and may offer an important treatment target for improving QoL. Our results additionally suggest that social satisfaction can buffer this association. Autism Research 2019, 12: 794-801. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Many individuals with autism report generally low quality of life (QoL). In this study, we looked at factors that predict long-term QoL and found that sleep problems are highly influential. Our results additionally suggest that social satisfaction can buffer this influence. These findings suggest that sleep and social satisfaction could be monitored to increase QoL in autistic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K Deserno
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT, Doorwerth, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Denny Borsboom
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sander Begeer
- Section Clinical Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kawita Mataw
- Section Clinical Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT, Doorwerth, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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46
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Abstract
The Autism Spectrum Quotient is a widely used instrument for the detection of autistic
traits. However, the validity of comparisons of Autism Spectrum Quotient scores between
groups may be threatened by differential item functioning. Differential item functioning
entails a bias in items, where participants with equal values of the latent trait give
different answers because of their group membership. In this article, items of the Autism
Spectrum Quotient were studied for differential item functioning between different groups
within a single sample (N = 408). Three analyses were conducted. First,
using a Rasch mixture model, two latent groups were detected that show differential item
functioning. Second, using a Rasch regression tree model, four groups were found that show
differential item functioning: men without autism, women without autism, people 50 years
and younger with autism, and people older than 50 years with autism. Third, using
traditional methods, differential item functioning was detected between groups with and
without autism. Therefore, group comparisons with the Autism Spectrum Quotient are at risk
of being affected by bias. Eight items emerged that consistently show differences in
response tendencies between groups across analyses, and these items were generally
negatively phrased. Two often-used short forms of the Autism Spectrum Quotient, the AQ-28
and AQ-10, may be more suitable for group comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Geeke Lever
- 1 University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,2 Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- 1 University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,2 Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, The Netherlands.,3 Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
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47
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Kuiper MWM, Verhoeven EWM, Geurts HM. The Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of an autism-specific sensory sensitivity measure. Autism 2018; 23:922-932. [DOI: 10.1177/1362361318788065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sensory sensitivity is common in autistic people and since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), hypo- and hyper-responsiveness to sensory stimuli are part of one of the criteria domains for an autism spectrum disorder classification. For scientific research and the clinical practice, one needs reliable and valid questionnaires that measure sensory sensitivity and can distinguish between hypo- and hyper-responsiveness. We translated the Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire into Dutch. The aim was to examine the psychometric properties and the clinical use of the Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire in 78 autistic and 68 typically developing adults (18–45 years; IQ > 70). Just like the original Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire, the Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire is a reliable and valid questionnaire. The Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire had reliable hypo- and hyper-responsiveness subscales, reasonable to good modality subscales and was stable over time. Moreover, using the 95th percentile of the typically developing group as cut-off, we showed that two thirds of the autistic adults had heightened sensory sensitivity. We also showed that hypo- and hyper-responsiveness do co-exist in both autistic and typically developing adults. In sum, we conclude that the Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire is suitable to be used in scientific research as well as in the clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke WM Kuiper
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
- University van Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
- University van Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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48
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) characteristics seem to abate over time, but whether this protracts until late adulthood is largely unknown. We cross-sectionally investigated self- and other-reported ASD characteristics of adults with (ASD: Nmax-self = 237, Nmax-other = 130) and without ASD (COM: Nmax-self = 198, Nmax-other = 148) aged 19-79 years. Within the ASD group, self-reported ASD characteristics, and sensory sensitivities were highest in middle adulthood, while age was not associated to empathy. Sex differences were also found. However, age-and sex-related differences were not revealed by others and self- and other-report were poorly concordant. These results show that ASD characteristics in adulthood are differently perceived across age, sex, and informants and suggest that it is important to repeatedly assess self-reported ASD characteristics during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne G Lever
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dimence, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Research Development & Innovation, Doorwerth, The Netherlands.
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49
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Abstract
An earlier meta-analysis and review indicated that trauma exposure may be related to lower levels of executive functioning in youth. Since different developmental trajectories were found for three core executive functions, the present study focused on working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility specifically. We conducted a multi-level meta-analysis on 55 studies and 322 effect sizes published between 2001 and 2017 that were retrieved from MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO. The 8070 participants in selected studies were aged 2-25 years. We investigated whether the association between constructs would be moderated by trauma-specific moderators (onset, duration, and type), and study (age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status) and measurement (quality) characteristics. We found small to medium effect sizes for working memory (d = -0.49), inhibition (d = -0.46), and cognitive flexibility (d = -0.44). Moderator analyses showed that, for working memory, when studies used low-quality measurements the effect size was significantly stronger than when studies used high-quality measurements.Compared to single trauma-exposed youth, violence-exposed/abused and foster care/adopted youth showed more problems in inhibition, and foster care/adopted youth showed more problems in cognitive flexibility. Our findings imply that trauma-exposed youth have lower levels of executive functions. Clinical practice should incorporate problems in executive functioning, especially working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, in assessment and treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanne Op den Kelder
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,De Bascule Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alithe L Van den Akker
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education/Research Priority Area YIELD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology (Brain & Cognition)/Research Priority Area YIELD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
| | - Ramón J L Lindauer
- De Bascule Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geertjan Overbeek
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education/Research Priority Area YIELD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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50
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the specific factors that contribute to the well-being (WB) of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A plausible hypothesis is that ASD symptomatology has a direct negative effect on WB. In the current study, the emerging tools of network analysis allow to explore the functional interdependencies between specific symptoms of ASD and domains of WB in a multivariate framework. We illustrate how studying both higher-order (total score) and lower-order (subscale) representations of ASD symptomatology can clarify the interrelations of factors relevant for domains of WB. METHODS We estimated network structures on three different construct levels for ASD symptomatology, as assessed with the Adult Social Behavior Questionnaire (item, subscale, total score), relating them to daily functioning (DF) and subjective WB in 323 adult individuals with clinically identified ASD (aged 17-70 years). For these networks, we assessed the importance of specific factors in the network structure. RESULTS When focusing on the highest representation level of ASD symptomatology (i.e. a total score), we found a negative connection between ASD symptom severity and domains of WB. However, zooming in on lower representation levels of ASD symptomatology revealed that this connection was mainly funnelled by ASD symptoms related to insistence on sameness and experiencing reduced contact and that those symptom scales, in turn, impact different domains of WB. CONCLUSIONS Zooming in across construct levels of ASD symptom severity into subscales of ASD symptoms can provide us with important insights into how specific domains of ASD symptoms relate to specific domains of DF and WB.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Deserno
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT,Doorwerth,The Netherlands
| | - D Borsboom
- Department of Psychology,University of Amsterdam,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - S Begeer
- Section Clinical Developmental Psychology,Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,Amsterdam and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis and REACH-AUT,Doorwerth,The Netherlands
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