Article
Psychiatry
Charlotte E. E. Blackmore, Alexandra Nolan, Vladimira Stoencheva, Natalie Greenwood, Natasha Liu-Thwaites, Stefanos Maltezos, Grainne M. M. McAlonan
Summary: An online adaptation of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) was found to perform comparably to the in-person ADOS-2, making it a viable alternative when in-person assessments are not possible. Qualitative feedback suggested that only 27% of patients would have preferred an in-person assessment. Clinicians reported gains from offering an online alternative.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yukiyo Nagai, Yuko Mizutani, Kayo Nomura, Osamu Uemura, Shinji Saitoh, Osuke Iwata
Summary: Preterm birth is associated with increased incidence of ASD, but there is no significant difference in autistic traits between preterm and term children. In this study, children born very preterm and term were compared using ADOS-2 severity scores and SRS-2 T-scores, and no significant difference was found in severity scores. There was a trend that T-scores were smaller for the preterm cohort, but it was not statistically significant. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of preterm birth on autistic traits and parental perception in a large prospective cohort.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Yeojin A. Ahn, Jacquelyn M. Moffitt, Yudong Tao, Stephanie Custode, Meaghan Parlade, Amy Beaumont, Sandra Cardona, Melissa Hale, Jennifer Durocher, Michael Alessandri, Mei-Ling Shyu, Lynn K. Perry, Daniel S. Messinger
Summary: The assessment of ASD symptom severity relies on ADOS-2 ratings by clinicians, but the association with objective measures of social gaze and smiling is unknown.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sophie Carruthers, Tony Charman, Nicole El Hawi, Young Ah Kim, Rachel Randle, Catherine Lord, Andrew Pickles
Summary: Measuring outcomes for autistic children following social communication interventions is challenging due to heterogeneous changes. This study compared the effects of different outcome measures on young autistic children and found that the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) may be more sensitive to behavioral changes than the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC), especially for children with limited verbal abilities. Certain behaviors like gestures, facial expressions, and intonation were associated with greater improvement, which can inform future intervention strategies.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Helen Phillips, Barry Wright, Victoria Allgar, Helen McConachie, Jennifer Sweetman, Rebecca Hargate, Rachel Hodkinson, Martin Bland, Hannah George, Anna Hughes, Emily Hayward, Victoria Fernandez Garcia De Las Heras, Ann Le Couteur
Summary: The study conducted a Delphi Consensus modification and first validation study of the ADOS-2 with deaf children and young people, showing that the tool will be a helpful addition for use with this population due to its high sensitivity and specificity.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Denisse Janvier, Yeo Bi Choi, Claire Klein, Catherine Lord, So Hyun Kim
Summary: This study investigated the test-retest reliability of the Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) across different modules and found strong reliability for quantifying autism symptom severity. The results support the use of ADOS CSS as a reliable tool for assessing autism symptom severity across development.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Susana Mouga, Joao Castelhano, Catia Cafe, Daniela Sousa, Frederico Duque, Guiomar Oliveira, Miguel Castelo-Branco
Summary: The study found that social attention deficits exist in patients with autism spectrum disorder, but they exhibit different characteristics in different tasks. Results suggest that social attention allocation is task-dependent, leading to the question of whether guiding goal-directed actions can help rescue spontaneous attention deficits.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Julie Vermeirsch, Liedewij Verhaeghe, Alexandra Casaer, Fran Faes, Ann Oostra, Herbert Roeyers
Summary: This study found a high prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in very preterm children, but the sensitivity and specificity of screening and diagnostic tools were inadequate. Successfully identifying ASD in this high-risk group poses challenges due to the limitations of current tools and cut-off scores.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Ivry Zagury-Orly, Mallory R. Kroeck, Louis Soussand, Alexander Li Cohen
Summary: The study found a strong relationship between face-processing deficits and social impact in individuals with ASD, highlighting the importance of face discrimination as a key covariate for the severity of ASD symptoms.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Education, Special
Mu-Hong Chen, Chi-Fen Huang, Yu-Siou Lin, Yen-Nan Chiu, Susan Shur-Fen Gau, Yu-Yu Wu
Summary: This study assessed the diagnostic validity of the Taiwanese Mandarin Chinese version of ADOS-2. The results showed that ADOS-2 has high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Therefore, ADOS-2 can be utilized for the assessment and diagnosis of ASD in clinical settings in Taiwan.
RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jung -Chi Chang, Meng-Chuan Lai, Yi-Ling Chien, Chung -Yuan Cheng, Yu -Yu Wu, Susan Shur-Fen Gau
Summary: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Mandarin version of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (Mandarin-ADOS-G) and found it to be a reliable and valid instrument for assisting the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Mandarin-speaking population.
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Einat Waizbard-Bartov, Deborah Fein, Catherine Lord, David G. Amaral
Summary: The severity of autism is currently measured based solely on the severity of the two core symptom domains: social-communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests. However, individuals with autism often have other co-occurring conditions that significantly impact their day-to-day lives. Considering these additional challenges along with the core symptoms is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of how autism affects individuals' lives.
Article
Psychiatry
Ashley M. Penney, Jessica Greenson, Ilene S. Schwartz, Annette Mercer Estes
Summary: This paper proposes a framework for accurate and accelerated autism diagnosis for children before age three, emphasizing a collaborative diagnostic process that relies heavily on Birth to Three provider knowledge and expertise.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Meredith Cola, Lisa D. Yankowitz, Kimberly Tena, Alison Russell, Leila Bateman, Azia Knox, Samantha Plate, Laura S. Cubit, Casey J. Zampella, Juhi Pandey, Robert T. Schultz, Julia Parish-Morris
Summary: Autistic girls use significantly more social words than boys during a diagnostic assessment, despite being matched on age, IQ, and autism symptom severity. Sex differences in linguistic markers of social phenotype in autism are important for understanding the unique presentation of autistic girls and the potential challenges in their diagnosis and referral.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Frederic Dutheil, Aurelie Comptour, Roxane Morlon, Martial Mermillod, Bruno Pereira, Julien S. Baker, Morteza Charkhabi, Maelys Clinchamps, Nicolas Bourdel
Summary: Exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in newborns, with PM2.5 showing the strongest impact. The most at-risk periods seem to be during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Correction
Behavioral Sciences
Erlend Joramo Brevik, Astri J. Lundervold, Jan Haavik, Maj-Britt Posserud
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Maj-Britt Posserud, Berit Skretting Solberg, Anders Engeland, Jan Haavik, Kari Klungsoyr
Summary: The study found a lower male to female ratio in adults with ASD compared to children, possibly due to factors such as later diagnosis in females, diagnostic biases, and diagnostic trends.
ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Developmental
Tobias Banaschewski, Oliviero Bruni, Joaquin Fuentes, Catherine Mary Hill, Allan Hvolby, Maj-Britt Posserud, Carmen Schroder
Summary: Between 50-80% of children with ASD experience insomnia, and experts recommend screening for insomnia and seeking specialist help when comorbid sleep disorders are suspected. The expert panel has developed tools for screening and monitoring to standardize practices, improve care, and enhance the well-being of children with ASD and their families.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Tora Soderstrom Gaden, Claire Ghetti, Ingrid Kvestad, Lucja Bieleninik, Andreas Storksen Stordal, Jorg Assmus, Shmuel Arnon, Cochavit Elefant, Shulamit Epstein, Mark Ettenberger, Marcela Lichtensztejn, Merethe Wolf Lindvall, Julie Mangersnes, Catharina Janner Roed, Bente Johanne Vederhus, Christian Gold
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of music therapy on premature infants and their caregivers. The results showed that parent-led, infant-directed singing supported by a music therapist did not result in significant differences in mother-infant bonding, parental anxiety, or maternal depression.
Article
Psychiatry
Ingvar Bjelland, Maj-Britt Posserud, Gro Janne Wergeland
Summary: The study aimed to develop a novel screening method for detecting developmental and mental health problems in preschool children by using the existing annual evaluation meetings between parents and teachers in daycare centers in a more systematic and goal-directed way.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Katrina McFerran, Anthea Skinner, Teresa Hall, Grace Thompson
Summary: This study discusses the shift of community music and music therapy projects to online formats during the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns in southern Australia. By creating four online music groups, the study explores the use of online technologies in promoting social inclusion and wellbeing for people with disabilities. The results reveal that the structured format of the sessions provides an online space for individuals with various disabilities, ages, and gender identities to explore their creativity together.
NORDIC JOURNAL OF MUSIC THERAPY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Gro Janne H. Wergeland, Maj-Britt Posserud, Krister Fjermestad, Urdur Njardvik, Lars-Goran Ost
Summary: This study systematically reviews and meta-analyzes the effectiveness of early behavioral interventions (BI) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in routine clinical care. The findings suggest that evidence-based behavioral treatments delivered in routine clinical care are efficacious in reducing ASD symptoms, with effects comparable to university research settings.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY-SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Rehabilitation
Joke Bradt, Grace Thompson
NORDIC JOURNAL OF MUSIC THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Music
Anthea Skinner, Grace Thompson, Katrina Skewes McFerran
Summary: The study interviewed eleven disabled musicians in Australia to explore the barriers and enablers they encountered in their music educations and careers. Using a 'nested model' based on qualitative narrative analysis, the research identified barriers and enablers coming from different aspects and drew further themes from the interviews to illuminate the barriers. Despite experiencing numerous barriers, the majority of participants found ways to participate and express their creativity in musical activities, providing practical suggestions for improving access.
MUSICOLOGY AUSTRALIA
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Amy Howden, Katrina Skewes McFerran, Grace Anne Thompson
Summary: This research project aimed to explore parents' experiences of engaging in individualized parent-infant music therapy in their home setting after their baby's discharge from a NICU setting. The findings revealed that mothers reflected and began to process their parenting experiences through songwriting, indicating that this approach is a novel way to support post-NICU families.
NORDIC JOURNAL OF MUSIC THERAPY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Rehabilitation
Grace Thompson
NORDIC JOURNAL OF MUSIC THERAPY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Tore Ivar Malmei Aarsland, Johanne Telnes Instanes, Maj-Britt Rocio Posserud, Arve Ulvik, Ute Kessler, Jan Haavik
Summary: This study systematically reviewed the changes in tryptophan metabolism and kynurenine levels after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and assessed methodological issues. The results showed no evidence of an effect of ECT on any outcome variable. Future studies should consider larger sample sizes, important covariates, and variability within and between subjects.
Review
Music
Joshua Birch, Grace Thompson
Summary: With the growing adoption of the social model of disability by developed nations, early childhood intervention practices have shifted towards an inclusive and strength-based approach. Recent music therapy literature reflects this shift, particularly in promoting family-centered strategies in homes. However, there is a lack of collated research on music therapy in preschool settings for children with disabilities. This scoping review aims to identify key characteristics of music therapy research in these settings and highlights the positive impact of music therapy on a child's development.
JOURNAL OF MUSIC THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Carolyn Shaw, Victoria Churchill, Sarah Curtain, Allison Davies, Brede Davis, Zoe Kalenderidis, Emily Langlois Hunt, Benjamin McKenzie, Megan Murray, Grace Anne Thompson
Summary: This reflective essay consists of 10 authors who are music therapy practitioners, academics, and students with personal experiences of disability, neurodivergence, or/and chronic physical and mental health conditions. The essay discusses the impact of ableism in music therapy work and advocates for a post-ableist approach that aims to create inclusive and empowering musical experiences. It explores the importance of including post-ableist perspectives for music therapists with lived experiences and highlights the need to incorporate accessibility into student training and supervision.
MUSIC THERAPY PERSPECTIVES
(2022)
Article
Education, Special
Wenche A. Helland, Maj-Britt Posserud, Astri J. Lundervold
Summary: This longitudinal, population-based study explores the associations between language problems and emotional and behavioural difficulties. The study finds that children with language problems have higher scores in emotional and behavioural difficulties. Persistent language problems are associated with more severe emotional and behavioural difficulties, particularly boys' behaviour problems and girls' emotional problems. These findings highlight the importance of providing mental health and language support during childhood and adolescence.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION
(2022)