Browsing by Subject "Autism"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Certain aspects of visual perception in some "autistic" children
    (1972) Lazarus, Janet Ray; Grover, Vera
    Identification strategies and patterns of visual inspection in relation to non-perceptual variables, rapport and discrimination set, were studied in 3 "autistic" Ss, using experimental materials relevant to various forms of visual perception. A qualitative, single case approach was followed, using as controls, individually matched Ss representing various points on a developmental continuum. Marked differences were found between 2 "autistic" Ss as compared with the third "autistic" S and the majority of control Ss in all variables, although 2 young normal Ss exhibited features similar to the 2 "autistic" Ss. It therefore appeared that in some "autistic" Ss, there was disturbance at selective and identifying levels of perception associated with deficiencies in non-perceptual factors. The disturbance appeared developmental rather than deviant in nature.
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    DSM-5: a collection of psychiatrist views on the changes, controversies, and future directions
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2013) Nemeroff, Charles; Weinberger, Daniel; Rutter, Michael; MacMillan, Harriet; Bryant, Richard; Wessely, Simon; Stein, Dan; Pariante, Carmine; Seemuller, Florian; Berk, Michael; Malhi, Gin; Preisig, Martin; Brune, Martin; Lysaker, Paul
    The recent release of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association has led to much debate. For this forum article, we asked BMC Medicine Editorial Board members who are experts in the field of psychiatry to discuss their personal views on how the changes in DSM-5 might affect clinical practice in their specific areas of psychiatric medicine. This article discusses the influence the DSM-5 may have on the diagnosis and treatment of autism, trauma-related and stressor-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, mood disorders (including major depression and bipolar disorders), and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
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    The research landscape of tuberous sclerosis complex–associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND)—a comprehensive scoping review
    (2022-02-13) Vanclooster, Stephanie; Bissell, Stacey; van Eeghen, Agnies M; Chambers, Nola; De Waele, Liesbeth; Byars, Anna W; Capal, Jamie K; Cukier, Sebastián; Davis, Peter; Flinn, Jennifer; Gardner-Lubbe, Sugnet; Gipson, Tanjala; Heunis, Tosca-Marie; Hook, Dena; Kingswood, J C; Krueger, Darcy A; Kumm, Aubrey J; Sahin, Mustafa; Schoeters, Eva; Smith, Catherine; Srivastava, Shoba; Takei, Megumi; Waltereit, Robert; Jansen, Anna C; de Vries, Petrus J
    Background Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)–associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND) is an umbrella term for the behavioural, psychiatric, intellectual, academic, neuropsychological and psychosocial manifestations of TSC. Although TAND affects 90% of individuals with TSC during their lifetime, these manifestations are relatively under-assessed, under-treated and under-researched. We performed a comprehensive scoping review of all TAND research to date (a) to describe the existing TAND research landscape and (b) to identify knowledge gaps to guide future TAND research. Methods The study was conducted in accordance with stages outlined within the Arksey and O’Malley scoping review framework. Ten research questions relating to study characteristics, research design and research content of TAND levels and clusters were examined. Results Of the 2841 returned searches, 230 articles published between 1987 and 2020 were included (animal studies = 30, case studies = 47, cohort studies = 153), with more than half published since the term TAND was coined in 2012 (118/230; 51%). Cohort studies largely involved children and/or adolescents (63%) as opposed to older adults (16%). Studies were represented across 341 individual research sites from 45 countries, the majority from the USA (89/341; 26%) and the UK (50/341; 15%). Only 48 research sites (14%) were within low–middle income countries (LMICs). Animal studies and case studies were of relatively high/high quality, but cohort studies showed significant variability. Of the 153 cohort studies, only 16 (10%) included interventions. None of these were non-pharmacological, and only 13 employed remote methodologies (e.g. telephone interviews, online surveys). Of all TAND clusters, the autism spectrum disorder–like cluster was the most widely researched (138/230; 60%) and the scholastic cluster the least (53/200; 27%). Conclusions Despite the recent increase in TAND research, studies that represent participants across the lifespan, LMIC research sites and non-pharmacological interventions were identified as future priorities. The quality of cohort studies requires improvement, to which the use of standardised direct behavioural assessments may contribute. In human studies, the academic level in particular warrants further investigation. Remote technologies could help to address many of the TAND knowledge gaps identified.
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    The health and well-being of caregivers raising children with and without autism spectrum disorder in the South African context
    (2022) Smith, Louise; Harty, Michal; Schlebusch, Liezl
    Background: Children require a nurturing environment to develop optimally and reach their full potential. A critical component of this environment is the health and well-being of caregivers so that they can provide responsive caregiving. It is believed that parents or caregivers of children with ASD will have poorer health and well-being than parents or caregivers of children without ASD. Therefore, parents of children with ASD may require more support to enable them to provide responsive caregiving to these children. Methods: This study was a quantitative study that employed an analytical, comparative design. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a significant difference in the health and well-being of parents with children with ASD and parents of children without ASD in the South African context. Two hundred and eight participants from two schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal completed a paper-based survey containing 3 questionnaires relating to health-related quality of life; stress, anxiety and depression and parental self-efficacy. Parenting constructs such as stress, anxiety and parental self-efficacy are measured and described, and the association between Health-related Quality of Life and constructs such as stress, anxiety and parental self-efficacy is explored. It took place at a special needs school in KZN and mainstream school in the same district. Results: The results of this study demonstrated a poorer HRQOL in some of the areas of parents of a child with ASD compared to parents of a child without ASD. The results from this study demonstrate the importance for health practitioners to focus on the parents' health and well-being as part of the child's intervention. Conclusion: Intervention is mainly child-focussed however it is important for practitioners to understand the caregiver's health and well-being as this will have a positive influence of the child and in turn, lead to successful intervention. It is therefore important to have a family-centred approach. The QOL of the parents or caregivers of children with ASD will improve through support and intervention which will positively impact on the child's development. If the caregiver is receiving the appropriate support, their QOL will improve and they will be able to provide nurturing care that the child needs.