Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders最新文献

Play-based interventions are gaining popularity amongst autistic children. Parents are uniquely placed to deliver these interventions as they are most familiar with their child’s strengths and challenges. Accordingly, reporting the effectiveness of play-based interventions and/or parent-delivered or mediated early-year interventions have been popular topics in the literature in the last decade. Despite this, little is known about the efficacy of parent-mediated play-based interventions on the developmental outcomes of autistic children. To close this gap in knowledge, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experiments focusing on social communication skills, language skills, and autistic characteristics of preschool autistic children (0–6-year-old) in non-educational settings. Overall, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria 21 of which were included in the synthesis. Of the included studies, 20 studies reported social communication skills, 15 studies reported language skills, and 12 studies reported autistic characteristics. Pooling effect sizes across the included studies showed that parent-mediated play-based interventions were effective on social communication (d = .63) and language skills (d = .40) as well as autistic characteristics (d = − .19) of preschool autistic children. Our findings suggest that parent-mediated play-based interventions hold promise for improving social functioning and related autistic characteristics for preschool autistic children.

The perinatal period has challenges for autistic women. This review synthesises evidence on the experiences of autistic women during the perinatal period. This mixed methods evidence synthesis followed JBI guidance for mixed methods systematic reviews. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool assessed study quality. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise findings. Thirteen studies were included. Themes identified included sensory demands of the perinatal period are frequently overwhelming; experiencing healthcare as an autistic person is challenging; parenting as an autistic mother has difficulties but also rewards; predictability and control are important in labour and birth. Individualised care with reasonable adjustments can make a difference to the perinatal experiences of autistic women. Despite challenges, autistic women also have many strengths as mothers.

The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing, leading to long-term challenges for both individuals with ASD and their parents. To address these issues, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as a promising approach. This scoping review aimed to examine the existing literature on the application of ACT in the field of ASD. A systematic search of databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus yielded 18 articles that met the inclusion criteria. In conclusion, ACT holds promise as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with ASD and their parents. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to explore its effectiveness and determine the most suitable strategies for adapting the intervention to meet the unique needs of this population.

Attentional deficits are common in autism spectrum disorder. This project aimed to assess three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive control). We conducted a Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis of studies that implemented the Attention Network Test or its variants to explore whether autistic individuals exhibited differences in the networks of attention when compared to typically developing controls. Ten studies were included in our analysis, comprising 421 children and adults with the age ranging from 4 to 58 years (M = 16.79). Through a Bayesian analysis, we find weak evidence that autistic participants are overall slower to respond than controls. Further between group comparisons suggest differences in the orienting and executive control networks.

Outcomes in adulthood for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are poor in every area assessed (e.g., postsecondary education, employment, living arrangements, health and safety). As such, it is critical that interventions target the best outcomes across the lifespan and improve the overall quality of life. Given that targeting meaningful skill-acquisition goals can help affect positive changes in these outcomes, the intention of this paper was to conduct a systematic literature review of the research examining what has been done to improve the quality of goals written by educational and behavior analytic practitioners. However, the literature review yielded so few references that the focus of this paper shifted to an examination of available assessment and curriculum tools that help practitioners to write meaningful goals. Implications and recommendations for guiding clinical practice and research questions are discussed.T

Despite a known male dominance (4:1) in autism diagnoses, there remains a lack of clarity surrounding sex/gender differences in the social communication skills and behaviors of autistic children/adolescents. While research supports the importance of interventions for social-communication skill development in autistic children/adolescents, a review of the literature in the context of intervention application based on sex/gender differences has not occurred. The aim of this review is to provide a synthesis of available literature investigating sex/gender differences in the social communication skills and social skills of autistic children/adolescents. Results indicate preliminary support for sex/gender differences in social behaviors and social-communication skill and behavior development, which may support adaptations to adolescent social skills interventions. There is no evidence supporting adaptations to early interventions.

Purpose

Self-restraint, purposeful restriction of one’s own bodily movements is observed in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. Case studies and cross-sectional investigations have reported that self-restraint co-occurs with self-injurious behaviour; however, small sample sizes limit understanding of prevalence and function. We aimed to synthesise the existing literature and estimate the pooled prevalence of self-restraint in autistic individuals and/or individuals with intellectual disability, and the pooled effect size with self-injury.

Methods

Six databases were systematically searched in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Results

A total of 21,567 papers were retrieved, with 15 samples from 13 records included in the analyses. The pooled prevalence estimate of self-restraint in individuals with autism and/or intellectual disability was 39%, 95% CI [26.25, 51.59]. Age and presence of autism significantly increased prevalence rates. Pooled prevalence estimates were consistent across gender, presence of intellectual disability, and type of measurement of self-restraint. Meta-analyses of 31 topographies of self-restraint revealed ‘holds or squeezes objects’ and ‘holding onto others, holding onto others’ clothing’ were the most prevalent behaviours amongst those who self-restrained (both 32%). The least prevalent behaviour was ‘chooses mechanical restraint’ (1%). Pooled prevalence estimates of self-restraint in individuals known to self-injure were 34%, 95% CI [21.36, 46.97], and 13%, 95% CI [5.01, 21.43], in individuals who did not self-injure. Self-restraint and self-injurious behaviour were positively correlated, r = 0.21, 95% CI [0.14, 0.27], K = 13.

Conclusions

Findings highlight that on average, over one third of individuals with autism and/or intellectual disability show self-restraint. Clinical and theoretical implications of findings are discussed.

Abstract

This systematic review explores lived experiences of grief in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), considering mental health impacts and how these experiences are expressed/understood. Reviewing qualitative research and grey literature centred on lived experience, 39 articles were identified through a systematic search of 8 databases and 1 page-ranked search engine. The articles were critically appraised, and results synthesised using thematic analysis and meta-synthesis. Four main themes and an overarching theme, titled Recognise the Unrecognised, emerged: Hidden Grief, Supported and Included, Understanding My Loss, and The Double Taboo of Death and Disability. The results indicate that grief often goes unrecognised in individuals with NDDs, especially following non-death losses. The implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Autonomic activity has been identified as “atypical” in autistic relative to nonautistic individuals. In nonautistic individuals, atypical autonomic activity is associated with anxiety symptoms. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess whether atypical autonomic activity in autistic individuals is explained by the presence of anxiety symptoms. Specifically, we systematically reviewed studies investigating the association between cardiac indicators of autonomic activity (e.g., heart rate variability, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart rate response) and anxiety symptoms in autistic individuals. The systematic review identified 36 potential articles for inclusion (32 via databases and registers; 4 via hand searching), yielding 26 described in the qualitative review and 10 articles included in the meta-analysis or quantitative review (that were also included in the qualitative review). Results of the random effects meta-analysis revealed a significant association between respiratory sinus arrythmia collected at rest or baseline and anxiety symptoms (r = -.20).

Abstract

Executive functions are neurocognitive processes involved in regulating thought and action. It is unknown whether youth diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have similar executive functioning. This review aimed to synthesize the literature directly comparing executive functioning in youth with ASD, ADHD, and their comorbidity (ASD + ADHD). In the 58 included articles, ADHD and ASD exemplified impaired response inhibition, working memory, and attention compared to controls. There is little support that ASD + ADHD showed the combined deficits of the ASD and the ADHD groups, and these three groups cannot be easily identified based on EF executive function profiles alone. Further standardization of tasks and performance metrics are necessary to facilitate future evidence synthesis.