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Query: UMLS:C0004352 (autism)
 32,579 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This study identified a possible autistic spectrum subtype expressed through family psychopathology coupled with autistic probands' cognitive functioning (i.e., an endophenotypic profile). Participants included 24 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 49 children with Learning Disorder (LD). There were significantly higher rates of Mood and Anxiety Disorder in first degree maternal relatives and of LD and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in first degree paternal relatives of ASD probands. Significantly higher visuospatial functioning was noted in all ASD probands for which there were higher rates of Mood Disorder on the maternal side suggesting a possible marker for an ASD subtype and indicating that maternal psychopathology may have a neuroprotective effect on visuospatial functioning.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 May
PMID:Brief report: an autistic spectrum subtype revealed through familial psychopathology coupled with cognition in ASD. 1803 95

The authors assessed the reliability of the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R). Seven Clinical Examiners evaluated a three and one half year old female toddler suspected of being on the Autism Spectrum. Examiners showed agreement levels of 94-96% across all items, with weighted kappa (K(w)) between .80 and .88. They were in 100% agreement on 74% of the items; in excellent agreement on 6% of the items (93-96%, with K(w) between .78 and .85); in good agreement on 7% (89-90%, with K(w) between .62 and 0.68); and in fair agreement on 3% (82 - 84%, with K(w) between .40 and .47). For the remaining 10% of ADI-R items, examiners showed poor agreement (50-81% with K(w )between -.67 and .37).
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Apr
PMID:Reliability of the ADI-R: multiple examiners evaluate a single case. 1805 16

The Autism Spectrum Quotient-Children's Version (AQ-Child) is a parent-report questionnaire that aims to quantify autistic traits in children 4-11 years old. The range of scores on the AQ-Child is 0-150. It was administered to children with an autism spectrum condition (ASC) (n = 540) and a general population sample (n = 1,225). Results showed a significant difference in scores between those with an ASC diagnosis and the general population. Receiver-operating-characteristic analyses showed that using a cut-off score of 76, the AQ-Child has high sensitivity (95%) and specificity (95%). The AQ-Child showed good test-retest reliability and high internal consistency. Factor analysis provided support for four of the five AQ-Child design subscales. Future studies should evaluate how the AQ-C performs in population screening.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Aug
PMID:The Autism Spectrum Quotient: Children's Version (AQ-Child). 1806 50

The present study investigated the factor structure of parent and teacher Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) in a population of 7-9 years old children. For validation purposes, factors derived were correlated with results on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). A three-factor solution was identified on both parent and teacher ASSQ. Most of the variance was explained by one factor including measures of social function, validated by a high correlation with the SDQ peer problems scale. The second factor included measures of autism-associated problems. The items allocated to the third factor were more specific for a cognitive style typically found in high-functioning individuals with autism/Asperger syndrome. This factor did not correlate highly with any of the SDQ subscales. The results indicated that the screening efficiency of ASSQ could be increased by closer examination of the individual profile of factor scores.
Autism 2008 Jan
PMID:Factor analysis of the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire. 1817 99

We report a major revision of the CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT). This quantitative CHAT (Q-CHAT) contains 25 items, scored on a 5 point scale (0-4). The Q-CHAT was completed by parents of n = 779 unselected toddlers (mean age 21 months) and n = 160 toddlers and preschoolers (mean age 44 months) with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). The ASC group (mean (SD) = 51.8 (14.3)) scored higher on the Q-CHAT than controls (26.7 (7.8)). Boys in the control group (27.5 (7.8)) scored higher than girls (25.8 (7.7)). The intraclass correlation for test-retest reliability was 0.82 (n = 330). The distribution in the control group was close to normal. Full examination of the clinical validity of the Q-CHAT and test properties is underway.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Sep
PMID:The Q-CHAT (Quantitative CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers): a normally distributed quantitative measure of autistic traits at 18-24 months of age: preliminary report. 1824 13

Facial feedback mechanisms of adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) were investigated utilizing three studies. Facial expressions, which became activated via automatic (Studies 1 and 2) or intentional (Study 2) mimicry, or via holding a pen between the teeth (Study 3), influenced corresponding emotions for controls, while individuals with ASD remained emotionally unaffected. Thus, individuals with ASD do not experience feedback from activated facial expressions as controls do. This facial feedback-impairment enhances our understanding of the social and emotional lives of individuals with ASD.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Aug
PMID:Facial feedback mechanisms in autistic spectrum disorders. 1829 75

The factor structure of the Dutch translation of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ; a continuous, quantitative measure of autistic traits) was evaluated with confirmatory factor analyses in a large general population and student sample. The criterion validity of the AQ was examined in three matched patient groups (autism spectrum conditions (ASC), social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder). A two factor model, consisting of a "Social interaction" factor and "Attention to detail" factor could be identified. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the AQ were satisfactory. High total AQ and factor scores were specific to ASC patients. Men scored higher than women and science students higher than non-science students. The Dutch translation of the AQ is a reliable instrument to assess autism spectrum conditions.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Sep
PMID:Factor structure, reliability and criterion validity of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): a study in Dutch population and patient groups. 1830 13

Although Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) has been associated with psychosocial difficulties, knowledge of the social behavioral phenotype is limited. We examined specific social abilities and autism traits in Klinefelter syndrome. Scores of 31 XXY men on the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior and the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire were compared to 24 and 20 control men respectively. XXY men reported increased distress during social interactions and less engagement in specific social behaviors. In the XXY group, levels of autism traits were significantly higher across all dimensions of the autism phenotype. These findings call for a clinical investigation of vulnerability to autism in Klinefelter syndrome. Klinefelter syndrome might serve as a model for studying a role of the X chromosome in social behavioral dysfunction and autism-like behavior.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Oct
PMID:Social behavior and autism traits in a sex chromosomal disorder: Klinefelter (47XXY) syndrome. 1832 63

The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) (formally known as the Childhood Asperger Screening Test) identifies autism spectrum conditions by measuring social and communication skills. The present study explored the sex distribution of scores. The CAST was distributed to 11,635 children aged 4-9 years in Cambridgeshire primary schools (UK). 3,370 (29%) were returned. The median score was significantly higher in boys (median test, P < 0.001) (Boys, median = 5 (IQR: 3,8); girls, median = 4 (IQR: 2,6)). There was a predominance of boys (n = 81 (79.4%) over girls (n = 21 (20.6%)) amongst those scoring >or= 15. Exclusion of children with ASC did not significantly affect the results. We conclude that different profiles of social and communication skills in boys and girls must be taken into account when measuring these skills in the general population.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Oct
PMID:The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST): sex differences. 1840 91

Typically developing individuals process faces using strategies that differ from those used for processing objects, and which tend to be holistic and based on configural information. Behavioral and neuroimaging studies suggest that individuals with autism may not utilize the same specialized strategies for face processing. The present study was designed to investigate whether computerized face-specific training, based on a modified version of Gauthier and Tarr's (1997) expertise protocol, can influence the face processing strategies and abilities of adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Ten individuals with ASD were assigned to either a training protocol designed to improve face processing (N = 5) or a control condition (N = 5). Outcomes assessed holistic processing and configural sensitivity. All trained individuals achieved a behavioral criterion of developing expertise in face recognition established in the literature. Outcome assessments indicated that the trained group showed significantly greater sensitivity to second-order configural relations compared with untrained controls, but did not differ on the measure of holistic processing. These findings suggest that face processing ability and strategies in autism can be significantly improved through training.
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PMID:Becoming a face expert: a computerized face-training program for high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders. 1844 67


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