Autism Spectrum Conditions Research Articles

Navigating adolescence: pubertal development in autism spectrum conditions and its relation to mental health.

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 16years 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.

Giftedness and atypical sexual differentiation: enhanced perceptual functioning through estrogen deficiency instead of androgen excess.

Syndromic autism spectrum conditions (ASC), such as Klinefelter syndrome, also manifest hypogonadism. Compared to the popular Extreme Male Brain theory, the Enhanced Perceptual Functioning model explains the connection between ASC, savant traits, and giftedness more seamlessly, and their co-emergence with atypical sexual differentiation. Overexcitability of primary sensory inputs generates a relative enhancement of local to global processing of stimuli, hindering the abstraction of communication signals, in contrast to the extraordinary local information processing skills in some individuals. Weaker inhibitory function through gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors and the atypicality of synapse formation lead to this difference, and the formation of unique neural circuits that process external information. Additionally, deficiency in monitoring inner sensory information leads to alexithymia (inability to distinguish one's own emotions), which can be caused by hypoactivity of estrogen and oxytocin in the interoceptive neural circuits, comprising the anterior insular and cingulate gyri. These areas are also part of the Salience Network, which switches between the Central Executive Network for external tasks and the Default Mode Network for self-referential mind wandering. Exploring the possibility that estrogen deficiency since early development interrupts GABA shift, causing sensory processing atypicality, it helps to evaluate the co-occurrence of ASC with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and schizophrenia based on phenotypic and physiological bases. It also provides clues for understanding the common underpinnings of these neurodevelopmental disorders and gifted populations.

Coping strategies and stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum condition and ADHD during the COVID 19 pandemic

Coping strategies and stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum condition and ADHD during the COVID 19 pandemic

Deep learning (DL) based improved probabilistic dense model (IPD) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) classification analysis

Among other symptoms, people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suffer from communication, social interaction, and repetitive habits. Even while complete eradication is not common, early interventions may make the illness more manageable. Here, we propose a practical framework for contrasting various Machine Learning (ML) methods for diagnosing ASD at an early age. The proposed framework uses a number of Feature Scaling (FS) methodologies, such as min-max scalar, principal component analysis, and intuitive visual representation analysis, to incorporate an efficient prediction method into the overall architecture. Our recommended design, which utilizes the IPD model, suggests that the categorization of adult autism spectrum condition, as an entity, is reflected in the overall verification of the features, and varied functional qualities. To do the mathematical analysis in our IPD model, we use chi-squared and probability density functional methods. The structure's purpose is to recognize and classify patients based on their palpable traits. We can observe that the 95.9% accuracy is far greater than the Machine Learning approach in the end.

Conform or be ostracised: restricted and repetitive behaviours in non-autistic persons

Autism is a neurological disability characterised by a number of ‘deficits’ in multiple areas of functioning and everyday life. Or is it? Damian Milton’s theory of the ‘double empathy problem’ attempts to empirically posit that the socialisation and communication difficulties present in autistic people are due to bidirectional differences in ways of communication between autistic and non-autistic people. This Current Issues piece extends said theory to encompass the restricted and repetitive behaviours that are commonly observed in autistic people, arguing that such behaviours may also be present in non-autistic people, albeit in a less stereotypical, more socially acceptable way. Because autism is characterised in part by the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours, this piece fundamentally challenges the manner in which autism spectrum conditions are diagnosed in individuals and seen far and wide, ultimately promoting the view of cognitive-behavioural difference in autistic people instead of ‘deficit’.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Orientation Discrimination Thresholds, Autistic, and Schizotypal Personality Traits

Imbalances in cortical excitation and inhibition (E-I) have been implicated in both autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and schizophrenia spectrum conditions (SSC). However, most studies investigate these clinical conditions independently, possibly due to the difficulty of obtaining comorbid clinical populations. As such, the current study investigated the relationship between performance in the orientation discrimination task “ODT” as a potential proxy for E-I balance and the autistic (as assessed by Autism Spectrum Quotient “AQ”) and schizotypal personality traits (as assessed by Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief “SPQ-BR”) in the general population. 87 healthy adult volunteers participated in the study. We found that high autistic personality traits are associated with enhanced performance in the oblique condition of ODT. In contrast, high schizotypal personality traits are associated with poor performance in the vertical condition of ODT. Such associations support the suggested disruption of cortical E-I balance in ASC and SSC.

Scene construction ability in neurotypical and autistic adults.

People with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have difficulties imagining events, which might result from difficulty mentally generating and maintaining a coherent spatial scene. This study compared this scene construction ability between autistic (N = 55) and neurotypical (N = 63) adults. Results showed that scene construction was diminished in autistic compared to neurotypical participants, and participants with fewer autistic traits had better scene construction ability. ASC diagnosis did not influence the frequency of mentions of the self or of sensory experiences. Exploratory analysis suggests that scene construction ability is associated with the ability to understand our own and other people's mental states, and that these individual-level preferences/cognitive styles can overrule typical group-level characteristics.

What Is Applied Behavior Analysis? I know I understand nothing: Invitation to Discussion

The aim of this study in the qualitative approach is to thoroughly analyse the phenomenon of ABA and to present the perception of ABA by people working with children with ASC[1] and by me to obtain a more accurate and reliable picture of the entirety of the examined problem. I will try to explain the various meanings given to ABA and the resulting misunderstandings. This will also be an attempt to consider what professionals working with autistic children criticise or support when talking about ABA.Another goal is to organise knowledge on the subject by showing the historical background. [1] Autistic Spectrum Conditions. On the 18 June 2018, World Health Organisation released its new International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The ICD catalogues different pathologies and conditions to provide a common language to inform and control their development, as well as comparing and sharing data following standard criteria between hospitals, regions and countries in different time periods. ICD-11 was presented at the World Health Assembly in May 2019 for adoption by Member States, and came into effect on 1 January 2022.

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

BackgroundEmotion dysregulation (ED) is a core symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD), whose aetiology has been attributed to biosocial factors. In autism spectrum condition (ASC), although ED is prevalent and is associated with decreased well-being (e.g. self-harm, suicidality), it has been understudied, especially in adults. It is therefore crucial to further understand ED in autistic adults to improve its treatment. Our study investigates ED, its behavioural correlates (e.g. self-harm, suicidality) and biosocial predictors in autistic adults relative to BPD and nonclinical controls (NC).MethodsA total of 724 participants (ASC = 154; BPD = 111; NC = 459) completed 11 self-reported questionnaires assessing ED, ASC and BPD traits, co-occurring disorders, alexithymia, emotional vulnerability and invalidating experiences (e.g. bullying, autistic camouflaging). The occurrence of ED behavioural correlates (i.e. self-harm, history of suicide attempts, and psychiatric hospitalizations) was collected. In addition, between-groups analyses, linear regressions and machine learning (ML) models were used to identify ED predictors in each group.ResultsED and its behavioural correlates were higher in ASC compared to NC, but milder than in BPD. While gender did not predict ED scores, autistic women had increased risk factors to ED, including sexual abuse and camouflaging. Interestingly, BPD traits, emotional vulnerability and alexithymia strongly predicted ED scores across the groups. Using ML models, sensory sensitivity and autistic camouflaging were associated with ED in ASC, and ADHD symptoms with ED in BPD.LimitationsASC and BPD diagnoses were self-reported, which did not allow us to check their accuracy. Additionally, we did not explore the transactional and the moderating/mediating relationships between the different variables. Moreover, our research is cross-sectional and cannot draw conclusions regarding the direction and causality of relationships between ED and other clinical dimensions.ConclusionsED and its behavioural correlates are heightened in BPD compared to ASC and nonclinical controls. In the ASC group, there were no gender differences in ED, despite the heightened exposure of autistic women to ED risk factors. BPD traits, emotional vulnerability, and alexithymia are core to ED regardless of diagnosis. Although less central, sensory sensitivity and autistic camouflaging seem to be specific predictors of ED in autistic adults.

Serious game the Emotion Detectives helps to improve social–emotional skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

AbstractChildren with neurodevelopmental disorders often have social–emotional difficulties. Serious games can be used to support their social–emotional learning. This study investigated if 6–10‐year‐old children with autism spectrum condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental language disorder would improve their emotion discrimination skills by playing a serious game. Intervention (n = 30) and control groups (n = 20), comprising children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and a group of typically developing (TD) age peers (n = 106), completed six emotion discrimination tasks. ABA research design was applied in this study. Prior to the game intervention, children with neurodevelopmental disorders were significantly delayed in relation to their TD age peers in all tasks. After playing the game for two months, the children in the intervention group had significantly improved their emotion discrimination skills in four tasks, whereas the control group had significantly advanced in only one task without practice. Intervention gains were maintained at the one‐month follow‐up. Parents reported that the children in the intervention group somewhat improved their emotion recognition and behavioural skills in daily life in comparison to the control group. Implications for practice are discussed. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often exhibit various social–emotional symptoms. Within the field of social–emotional learning, many serious games have a narrow focus on specific skills, and they often only provide possibilities for observing target behaviours, not actual skill training. There are mixed results on the efficacy of game‐based interventions targeted at improving social–emotional skills. What this paper adds The Emotion Detectives game used in this study offers a well‐designed learning environment that provides adaptive learning and feedback systems. The participating children's social–emotional skills were assessed with versatile methods and via triangulation. Intervention with the Emotion Detectives game helped to decrease some emotion and behavioural symptoms of the players. Implications for practice This study provides information about the efficacy of a web‐based game that is freely available for supporting children's social–emotional learning. Improvements in emotion discrimination and recognition, as well as behavioural skills, can be gained by playing serious games. For optimal intervention outcomes, multimodal training should be utilized in serious games targeting social–emotional learning.

Effectiveness of a universal preschool-based program for emotional education in 3- to 5-year-old children with autism spectrum conditions.

There are numerous programs and interventions to improve social and emotional skills that expressly target children with autism spectrum conditions. However, there is less knowledge about the impact of universal (directed to all children) school programs of emotional education specifically on these children. In this context, the aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the "1,2,3,emoció!" universal school program on them. The results show that children with autism spectrum conditions participating in the program improved their emotional competence more than the ones who did not participate. Therefore, we conclude that the "1,2,3,emoció!" universal program is effective in children with autism spectrum conditions. This promising outcome gives the opportunity to these children to benefit from group learning in an inclusive school setting, by complementing individual interventions with a universal program.

Thinking differently works: Understanding the essential elements for the success of a competitive integrated employment program developed for persons with autism spectrum conditions.

Thinking differently works: Understanding the essential elements for the success of a competitive integrated employment program developed for persons with autism spectrum conditions.

Social motor synchrony in autism spectrum conditions: A systematic review.

When two people interact, they often fall into sync with one another by moving their bodies at the same time. Some say autistic people are not as good as non-autistic people at moving at the same time as a partner. This has led some researchers to ask whether measuring synchrony might help diagnose autism. We reviewed the research so far to look at differences in Social Motor Synchrony (SMS) (the way we move together) between autistic people and people they interact with. The research suggests that interactions involving an autistic partner (either two autistic partners, or an autistic and non-autistic partner) show lower synchrony than a non-autistic pair. However, we recognised elements in the research so far that may have affected SMS in interactions involving an autistic person. One way SMS may have been affected in research so far might be the way interactions have been set up in the research studies. Few papers studied interactions between two autistic people or looked at synchrony in comfortable environments with autistic-preferred tasks. The studies also do not explain why synchrony might be different, or weaker, in pairs involving autistic partners. We use these limitations to suggest improvements for future research.

A Cross-sectional Conceptual Replication and Longitudinal Evaluation of the PANSS-Autism-Severity-Score Measure Suggests it Does Not Capture Autistic Traits in Individuals With Psychosis.

Autism and psychosis co-occur at elevated rates, with implications for clinical outcomes, functioning, and suicidality. The PANSS-Autism-Severity-Score (PAUSS) is a measure of autism trait severity which has not yet been validated externally or longitudinally. Participants were derived from the GROUP and SCOPE datasets. Participants included 1448 adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD), 800 SSD-siblings, 103 adults diagnosed with an autistic spectrum condition (ASC), and 409 typically-developing controls (TC). Analyses from the original validation study were conducted with SSD participants, and extended into ASC, SSD-sibling, and TC participants. Test-retest reliability of the PAUSS at 2-weeks and long-term stability 3 and 6-years was also examined. Results differed in important ways from the original validation. SSD participants reported higher PAUSS scores than other groups, with only a fraction of ASC participants scoring as "PAUSS-Autistic." Cronbach's alpha was acceptable for the SSD cohort only. Two-week stability of the PAUSS was fair to good for all PAUSS scores. Long-term stability was poor for most PAUSS items but fair for total PAUSS score. Results suggest that the PAUSS does not appear appropriate for assessing autism, with the low rate of PAUSS-Autistic in the ASC population suggesting the PAUSS may not accurately reflect characteristics of autism. The relative lack of long-term stability is cause for concern and suggestive that the PAUSS is capturing features of psychosis rather than autism traits.

Indoor thermal and visual well-being of people with autism: preliminary results from a field study in Denmark

The literature contains very little knowledge regarding the indoor well-being of people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Though, when dealing with higher autism levels and specific co-morbidities, the lack of autonomy of potential subjects makes standard comfort studies difficult or even impossible. As part of the EU-funded project “SENSEwellbeing”, the present paper shows the preliminary results of a field study on the indoor thermal and visual well-being of non-autonomous people with ASC, performed in a Danish care-center. Due to the fragility of the subjects involved and ethical issues related, we had to overcome several challenges. A determining example is the limited possibility to directly involve the subjects and make interventions in their private spaces in comfort-related experiments. For this reason, the caregivers working in the facility were involved in a semi-structured interview to indirectly characterize the thermal and visual preferences of subjects. Additionally, short- and long-term measurements of indoor quantities were taken in common rooms and empty living spaces. The interviews’ outcomes were linked to the environmental measurement, allowing a preliminary characterization of the adequacy of indoor design in terms of well-being of non-autonomous people with ASC. The study highlights the differences in perception of thermal and visual environment among people with ASC, and the necessity to find solutions to more directly involve non-autonomous subjects in studies on the indoor environment. The present research may also inspire other studies with people with special needs, whose comfort perception would otherwise be challenging to collect.

Camouflage, self-esteem and gratitude in young adults with varying degrees of autistic traits in Poland

Autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) imply functioning difficulties in adulthood due to the fact that they are caused by early-onset problems in social communication, unusually restricted repetitive behavior, and narrow interests. Living with ASC might be difficult for young adults who face specific developmental tasks, such as undertaking a professional career and engaging in social and civic responsibilities. Because of the need to hide their dysfunctions and to conform to social norms and conventions, affected people use camouflage strategies. In order to improve their well-being and functioning, they may also use the regulatory function of self-esteem and gratitude. The presented research carried out in Poland aimed to determine the relations between the intensity of camouflage, self-esteem, and gratitude and to test for differences in the levels of these variables, taking into consideration the intensity of the autism spectrum conditions (ASC). The study comprised a total of 104 young adults (68 women = 65.38%, and 36 men = 34.62%) who graduated from secondary or tertiary education aged between 19 and 35 years. The entire group was divided into two subgroups based on the screening questionnaire Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ10), a ten-item abridged version. One subgroup consisted of 52 adults with a high intensity of autistic traits, and the other consisted of individuals with a low intensity of autistic traits. The results showed a correlation between the level of autism spectrum conditions and camouflage. The level of camouflage was significantly higher in the subgroup with an increased severity of autistic traits compared with the subgroup with a low severity. In contrast, no significant differences were detected between the subgroups in the levels of self-esteem and gratitude, nor were any linear correlations between spectrum conditions and self-esteem and gratitude found.

Emotion recognition in autism spectrum condition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks became mandatory to prevent the spread of the virus. However, they restrict the ability to recognize emotions to the upper part of the face. Since individuals with autism spectrum condition often tend to look at the lower half of the face, they may be particularly restricted in emotion recognition by people wearing masks, since they are now forced to look at the upper half of the face. The current study compared the recognition of facially expressed emotions between individuals with and without autism spectrum condition. Each photo was shown in three types, once uncovered, once with face mask, and once with sunglasses. Our results revealed a reduction in accuracy of individuals with autism spectrum condition at recognizing emotions in all three stimulus types and exhibited more difficulties distinguishing anger, fear, pride, and embarrassment. During the emotion recognition task, there was no difference in which facial areas the groups looked at. We did not find evidence that the disadvantages of individuals with autism spectrum condition in emotion recognition were due to looking at different areas of the face.

Beyond words: A reflection from health professionals around the meaning of ‘hear me, don’t blame me’ in relation to meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities and autism spectrum conditions

This article is a reflective piece written by the Intensive Positive Behaviour Support Service (iPBS) in South Wales. The iPBS team works with children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum conditions, that communicate their unmet needs in ways that may challenge and are at risk of their support networks breaking down. The team works within the Positive Behaviour Support Framework and is shaped by attachment and trauma-informed research and practice. The main aims of the service are to understand unmet needs and to improve quality of life.The iPBS team completed a 1-hour reflection considering ‘hear me, don’t blame me’ and what this means to them, their roles and the service as a whole. Three key overarching themes were identified using thematic analysis: service structure, skills, and approach. The team hopes that the themes identified through this exercise will influence future iPBS processes and service delivery. The reflections explored in this article may also be beneficial for parents/carers and professionals working with a united aim of meeting the needs of children and young people presenting with behaviours of concern; beyond words. Clinical implications of the reflective piece are discussed and recommendations for other services to have their own reflections are provided.

B - 14 Facial Affect Recognition among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) Compared to Individuals without ASC.

This study aims to assess whether individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are less effective in recognizing facial affect (emotions) when compared to other individuals. 1675 adult volunteers (ages 18+) were recruited via Research Match. All participants were asked to indicate their mental health history and were placed into one of two groups: (1) individuals with ASC (n = 586) and (2) individuals without ASC (n = 1089). Both groups took the Ekman Friesen Picture of Facial Affect scale (POFA). The POFA scale consists of 110 grayscale photos who posed with seven facial expressions: happy, sad, angry, fearful, surprise, disgust, and neutral. Participants were instructed to choose which emotion the photos best represented. Using the scoring manual, we recoded the participant's responses to represent whether they accurately determined the emotion presented in each photo. Next, we computed a total score for each emotion. Finally, we conducted an Independent Samples T-test for each of the emotions to compare the mean of each group's accuracy in determining the correct emotions. For all emotions, the ASD group was significantly less accurate in determining facial affect compared to the control group. Happy: t(1673) = 3.50, p = <0.001. Sad: t(1673) = 3.10, p = 0.002. Angry: t(1673) = 3.57, p = <0.001. Fearful: t(1673) = 3.55, p = <0.001. Surprised: t(1673) = 3.48, p = <0.001. Neutral: t(1673) = 5.60, p = <0.001. These findings indicate that individuals with ASC may be less accurate in determining facial affect when compared to individuals without ASC.

B - 16 Prevalence of Comorbid Diagnoses among Individuals with a Clinical Vs. Self-Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC).

The evolution of ASC has changed drastically since its initial conceptualization. Therefore, it is possible that numerous individuals remain undiagnosed and untreated based on lack of knowledge about this condition. Diagnoses of ASC often include multiple other detrimental comorbid disorders. To elucidate whether the issue of underdiagnosis is relevant, it is important to determine if there are individuals who believe they qualify for a diagnosis of ASC, who remain undiagnosed. This study aims to compare the prevalence of comorbid diagnoses between individuals diagnosed by a clinician with those who self-report having ASC. 391 adults who self-reported have ASC (ages 18+) were recruited via Research Match. The call for subjects stated that the study was looking for individuals with a diagnosis of ASC to participate. Volunteers were asked to indicate if they were diagnosed with ASC, and if so, from whom they were diagnosed. One of the options for who gave the diagnosis was "self". Finally, participants were asked to indicate any comorbid diagnoses they had. Of the 391 participants, 180 self-reported having ASC, and 211 participants indicated that they were diagnosed by a clinician. A one-way ANOVA was significant, indicating significant differences among groups, F(5,389) = 2.84, p = 0.016. Specifically, those who were diagnosed by a psychiatrist (M = 4.41) had significantly more comorbid diagnoses when compared with those who were self-diagnosed (M = 3.62). As 180 participants who claimed to have ASC were not clinically diagnosed, the results suggest that under-diagnoses of this condition may be prevalent.