Offending profiles of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A study of all individuals with autism spectrum disorder examined by the forensic psychiatric service in Norway between 2000 and 2010
This study examined the characteristics of adults with autism spectrum disorder who have undergone a forensic examination and explored any relationships between the diagnosis and the offence. The reports described 41 men and 7 women. The autism spectrum disorder was diagnosed late (mean age: 25.3 years), and 22 of the 48 cases were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder for the first time by the forensic experts. The education level and employment status were low. Family networks were close, but social networks outside the family were limited. Co-morbid diagnoses were common, and more than half of the group knew their vic...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Helverschou, S. B., Rasmussen, K., Steindal, K., Sondanaa, E., Nilsson, B., Nottestad, J. A. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Predictive validity of self-report questionnaires in the assessment of autism spectrum disorders in adults
In this study, we tested the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised and two short versions of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, the AQ-28 and AQ-10, in 210 patients referred for autism spectrum disorder assessment and in 63 controls. Of the 210 patients, 139 received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and 71 received another psychiatric diagnosis. The positive predictive values indicate that these tests correctly identified autism spectrum disorder patients in almost 80% of the referred cases. However, the negative predictive values suggest that only half of the referred patients without autism spectrum disord...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Sizoo, B. B., Horwitz, E., Teunisse, J., Kan, C., Vissers, C., Forceville, E., Van Voorst, A., Geurts, H. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Self and informant reports of mental health difficulties among adults with autism findings from a long-term follow-up study
Data on psychiatric problems in adults with autism are inconsistent, with estimated rates ranging from around 25% to over 75%. We assessed difficulties related to mental health in 58 adults with autism (10 females, 48 males; mean age 44 years) whom we have followed over four decades. All were of average non-verbal intelligence quotient when diagnosed as children. Overall ratings of mental health problems were based on data from the Family History Schedule (Bolton et al., 1994). Informant reports indicated that many of the cohort (44%) had experienced no mental health problems in adulthood; 28% had experienced mild to moder...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Moss, P., Howlin, P., Savage, S., Bolton, P., Rutter, M. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
"Respect the way I need to communicate with you": Healthcare experiences of adults on the autism spectrum
Our objective was to obtain an in-depth understanding of autistic adults’ experiences with healthcare and their recommendations for improving care. Our academic–community partnership used a community-based participatory research approach to conduct semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 39 autistic adults and 16 people who had experience supporting autistic adults in healthcare settings. Participants identified patient-level, autism-related factors that impact healthcare interactions, including verbal communication skills, sensory sensitivities, challenges with body awareness, slow processing speed, atypic...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Nicolaidis, C., Raymaker, D. M., Ashkenazy, E., McDonald, K. E., Dern, S., Baggs, A. E., Kapp, S. K., Weiner, M., Boisclair, W. C. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
The health status of adults on the autism spectrum
The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of psychiatric and medical conditions among a large, diverse, insured population of adults with autism in the United States. Participants were adult members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California enrolled from 2008 to 2012. Autism spectrum disorder cases (N = 1507) were adults with autism spectrum disorder diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases-9-Clinical Modification codes 299.0, 299.8, 299.9) recorded in medical records on at least two separate occasions. Controls (N = 15,070) were adults without any autism spectrum disorder diagnoses sampled at a 1...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Croen, L. A., Zerbo, O., Qian, Y., Massolo, M. L., Rich, S., Sidney, S., Kripke, C. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Still stressed but feeling better: Well-being in autism spectrum disorder families as children become adults
This article presents a cross-sectional study of 102 Spanish parents (51 mothers and 51 fathers) of 102 individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The aim was to examine parental well-being (evaluated based on stress, anxiety, depression and psychological well-being) in three groups of parents of adults, adolescents and young children with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the relationships between parental well-being and the characteristics of their children, social support, parental age and sense of coherence were analysed. The results showed that although parental stress and psychological well-being levels were sim...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Pozo, P., Sarria, E. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Characterizing the daily life, needs, and priorities of adults with autism spectrum disorder from Interactive Autism Network data
This study underscores the need for lifespan research; initiatives will benefit from incorporating information from the unique perspectives of adults with autism spectrum disorder and their families. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Gotham, K., Marvin, A. R., Taylor, J. L., Warren, Z., Anderson, C. M., Law, P. A., Law, J. K., Lipkin, P. H. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Longitudinal patterns of employment and postsecondary education for adults with autism and average-range IQ
This study examined correlates of participation in postsecondary education and employment over 12 years for 73 adults with autism spectrum disorders and average-range IQ whose families were part of a larger, longitudinal study. Correlates included demographic (sex, maternal education, paternal education), behavioral (activities of daily living, maladaptive behaviors, autism symptoms), and family (size of maternal social network; maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pessimism) factors. Although two-thirds of adults with autism spectrum disorder participated in competitive employment/postsecondary education during the ...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Taylor, J. L., Henninger, N. A., Mailick, M. R. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Daily living skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder from 2 to 21 years of age
This study examined predictors of daily living skills attainment and trajectories of daily living skills in a longitudinal sample referred for possible autism spectrum disorder and followed from 2 to 21 years of age. Consistent with previous studies, participants with autism spectrum disorder and nonspectrum diagnoses showed continual development of daily living skills throughout childhood and adolescence. Early childhood nonverbal mental age was the strongest predictor of daily living skills attainment for both diagnostic groups. Group-based modeling suggested two distinct trajectories of daily living skills development f...
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Bal, V. H., Kim, S.-H., Cheong, D., Lord, C. Tags: Special Issue Articles Source Type: research
Addressing the need for high quality research on autism in adulthood
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - September 22, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Howlin, P., Taylor, J. L. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Lay abstracts
(Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - July 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Tags: Lay abstracts Source Type: research
Phenotypic differences in individuals with autism spectrum disorder born preterm and at term gestation
The objective of the study was to characterize the phenotype of males and females with autism spectrum disorder born preterm versus those born at term. Descriptive statistical analyses identified differences between male and female autism spectrum disorder subjects born preterm compared to term for several phenotypic characteristics and comorbidities. Of the 115 (13.0% of 883) born preterm, a greater percentage of males had sleep apnea (13.8% vs 2.5%, p < 0.0001), seizure disorders (17.0% vs 8.5%, p = 0.01), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (14.9% vs 6.6%, p = 0.005). Females born preterm were more likely to...
Source: Autism - July 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Bowers, K., Wink, L. K., Pottenger, A., McDougle, C. J., Erickson, C. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
High self-perceived stress and poor coping in intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorder
This study focuses on stress in everyday life in intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorders. In total, 53 adults (25 with autism spectrum disorder and 28 typical adults from the general population) completed the Perceived Stress Scale. Autistic traits were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Adults with autism spectrum disorder reported significantly higher subjective stress and poorer ability to cope with stress in everyday life, as compared to typical adults. Autistic traits were associated with both subjective stress/distress and coping in this cross-sectional series. The long-term consequences o...
Source: Autism - July 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Hirvikoski, T., Blomqvist, M. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
Oral health among preschool children with autism spectrum disorders: A case-control study
Conclusion:
Differences in oral health status exist among preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Preschool children with autism spectrum disorder exhibited lower caries experiences and better gingival health than children without autism spectrum disorder. (Source: Autism)
Source: Autism - July 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Du, R. Y., Yiu, C. K., King, N. M., Wong, V. C., McGrath, C. P. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
A comparison of WISC-IV and SB-5 intelligence scores in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
In autism spectrum disorders, results of cognitive testing inform clinical care, theories of neurodevelopment, and research design. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Stanford–Binet are commonly used in autism spectrum disorder evaluations and scores from these tests have been shown to be highly correlated in typically developing populations. However, they have not been compared in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, whose core symptoms can make testing challenging, potentially compromising test reliability. We used a within-subjects research design to evaluate the convergent validity between...
Source: Autism - July 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Baum, K. T., Shear, P. K., Howe, S. R., Bishop, S. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
