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Baloyi O, Jarvis MA, Chironda G, Mbeje P, Ngcobo SJ, Gqaleni T, Mhlongo EM, Ngcobo WB, Brysiewicz P. Experiences of families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in World Health Organization Afro-Regions: A scoping review. Nurs Health Sci 2024; 26:e13123. [PMID: 38692580 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.13123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
A scoping review on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its impact on the families of affected children was undertaken due to insufficient information available on the diverse experiences impacting their lives. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, eligibility criteria were guided by Population (families), Concept (family experiences), and Context (African region). English-language articles were sought from a variety of databases and search engines. The publication date of the identified articles ranged from 2003 to 2021 with most published in 2020 (n = 10), and the majority using qualitative methodologies (n = 51). Most family members involved were parents (n = 51) and their ages ranged from 18 to 75 years. The families experienced various challenges related to their child with regard to education, healthcare, and the broader community including lack of support. Family coping strategies included believing in God, attending counseling sessions, adapting, and accepting the situation. Healthcare professionals should be prepared and positioned to educate families and siblings on various aspects of ASD. There is a need for active, continued research on families within most countries of World Health Organization Afro-region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Baloyi
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mary Ann Jarvis
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Geldine Chironda
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Pretty Mbeje
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Silingene Joyce Ngcobo
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Thusile Gqaleni
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Euphemia Mbali Mhlongo
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Winnie Baphumelele Ngcobo
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Petra Brysiewicz
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Loffi RG, Cruz TKF, Paiva GM, Souto DO, Barreto SR, Santana PAN, Nascimento AAAC, Costa FRM, Cota EB, Haase VG. Theoretical-Methodological Foundations for the Global Integration Method (Método de Integração Global-MIG) in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children (Basel) 2024; 11:191. [PMID: 38397303 PMCID: PMC10887636 DOI: 10.3390/children11020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Currently, there is no intervention model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that addresses all levels and factors of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, WHO). The most researched programs focus on naturalistic, developmental and behavioral approaches to socio-communication. Less attention has been paid to motor and environmental reactivity aspects (behavior/interest restriction and sensory reactivity). The evidence rationale for the Global Integration Method (MIG, "Método de Integração Global"), a model addressing sensorimotor reactivity in addition to socio-communication, is presented. MIG is an integrative, interdisciplinary, family-oriented intervention and naturalistic program that addresses all levels and moderating factors of ASD's impact. MIG's theoretical rationale is based on the predictive coding impairment and embodied cognition hypotheses. MIG incorporates both bottom-up (flexible therapeutic suit, social-motor synchronization) and top-down (schematic social information processing, narratives, imagery) strategies to promote the building and use of accurate, flexible and context-sensitive internal predictive models. MIG is based on the premises that predictive coding improves both socio-communication and environmental reactivity, and that the postural stabilization provided by the flexible therapeutic suit frees information processing resources for socio-cognitive learning. MIG builds on interdisciplinary, professionally and parentally mediated work based on behavioral principles of intensive training in a situated environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Guimarães Loffi
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
| | - Thalita Karla Flores Cruz
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Giulia Moreira Paiva
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Deisiane Oliveira Souto
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
| | - Simone Rosa Barreto
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fonoaudiológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Aparecida Neves Santana
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Amanda Aparecida Alves Cunha Nascimento
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Rachel Martins Costa
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia: Cognição e Comportamento, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Elisa Braz Cota
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
| | - Vitor Geraldi Haase
- Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil; (R.G.L.); (G.M.P.); (D.O.S.); (S.R.B.); (P.A.N.S.); (A.A.A.C.N.); (F.R.M.C.); (E.B.C.); (V.G.H.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia: Cognição e Comportamento, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
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Pini N, Sania A, Rao S, Shuffrey LC, Nugent JD, Lucchini M, McSweeney M, Hockett C, Morales S, Yoder L, Ziegler K, Perzanowski MS, Fox NA, Elliott AJ, Myers MM, Fifer WP. In Utero Exposure to Alcohol and Tobacco and Electroencephalogram Power During Childhood. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2350528. [PMID: 38180758 PMCID: PMC10770777 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) are risk factors associated with adverse neurobehavioral and cognitive outcomes. Objective To quantify long-term associations of PAE and PTE with brain activity in early and middle childhood via electroencephalography (EEG). Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study included participants enrolled in the Safe Passage Study (August 2007 to January 2015), from which a subset of 649 participants were followed up in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program. From September 2018 through November 2022, EEG recordings were obtained at ages 4, 5, 7, 9, or 11 years. Data were analyzed from November 2022 to November 2023. Exposures Maternal self-reported consumptions of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy were captured at the recruitment interview and at up to 3 visits during pregnancy (20-24, 28-32, and ≥34 weeks' gestation). Classifications of PAE (continuous drinking, quit-early drinking, and nondrinking) and PTE (continuous smoking, quit-early smoking, and nonsmoking) were previously obtained. Main Outcomes and Measures EEG band powers (theta, alpha, beta, gamma) were extracted from the EEG recordings. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of PAE and PTE with EEG estimates. Results The final sample included 649 participants (333 [51.3%] female) aged 4, 5, 7, 9, or 11 years. Children whose mothers were in the quit-early drinking cluster had increased alpha power (0.116 [95% CI, 0.023 to 0.209] μV2; P = .02) compared with individuals without PAE. The magnitude of this increase was approximately double for children exposed to continuous drinking (0.211 [95% CI, 0.005 to 0.417] μV2; P = .04). Children whose mothers were in the continuous smoking cluster had decreased beta power (-0.031 [95% CI, -0.059 to -0.003] μV2; P = .03) and gamma power (-0.020 [95% CI, -0.039 to -0.000] μV2; P = .04) compared with the nonsmoking cluster. In exploratory sex-stratified models, male participants in the quit-early PAE cluster had greater EEG power in the alpha band (0.159 [95% CI, 0.003 to 0.315] μV2; P = .04) compared with those with no PAE, and the difference was approximately double for male participants with continuous PAE (0.354 [95% CI, 0.041 to 0.667] μV2; P = .03). Male participants in the continuous PTE cluster had decreased beta (-0.048 [95% CI, -0.090 to - 0.007] μV2; P = .02) and gamma (-0.032 [95% CI, -0.061 - 0.002] μV2; P = .04) power compared with those with no PTE. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that even low levels of PAE and PTE were associated with long-term alterations of brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Pini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Ayesha Sania
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Shreya Rao
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Lauren C. Shuffrey
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - J. David Nugent
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Maristella Lucchini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Marco McSweeney
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Christine Hockett
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls
| | - Santiago Morales
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Lydia Yoder
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Katherine Ziegler
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls
| | - Matthew S. Perzanowski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Nathan A. Fox
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Amy J. Elliott
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls
| | - Michael M. Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - William P. Fifer
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
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Vernocchi P, Marangelo C, Guerrera S, Del Chierico F, Guarrasi V, Gardini S, Conte F, Paci P, Ianiro G, Gasbarrini A, Vicari S, Putignani L. Gut microbiota functional profiling in autism spectrum disorders: bacterial VOCs and related metabolic pathways acting as disease biomarkers and predictors. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1287350. [PMID: 38192296 PMCID: PMC10773764 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1287350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder. Major interplays between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system (CNS) seem to be driven by gut microbiota (GM). Herein, we provide a GM functional characterization, based on GM metabolomics, mapping of bacterial biochemical pathways, and anamnestic, clinical, and nutritional patient metadata. Methods Fecal samples collected from children with ASD and neurotypical children were analyzed by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry coupled with solid phase microextraction (GC-MS/SPME) to determine volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with the metataxonomic approach by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses assessed differential VOC profiles and relationships with ASD anamnestic and clinical features for biomarker discovery. Multiple web-based and machine learning (ML) models identified metabolic predictors of disease and network analyses correlated GM ecological and metabolic patterns. Results The GM core volatilome for all ASD patients was characterized by a high concentration of 1-pentanol, 1-butanol, phenyl ethyl alcohol; benzeneacetaldehyde, octadecanal, tetradecanal; methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-hexanone, acetone; acetic, propanoic, 3-methyl-butanoic and 2-methyl-propanoic acids; indole and skatole; and o-cymene. Patients were stratified based on age, GI symptoms, and ASD severity symptoms. Disease risk prediction allowed us to associate butanoic acid with subjects older than 5 years, indole with the absence of GI symptoms and low disease severity, propanoic acid with the ASD risk group, and p-cymene with ASD symptoms, all based on the predictive CBCL-EXT scale. The HistGradientBoostingClassifier model classified ASD patients vs. CTRLs by an accuracy of 89%, based on methyl isobutyl ketone, benzeneacetaldehyde, phenyl ethyl alcohol, ethanol, butanoic acid, octadecane, acetic acid, skatole, and tetradecanal features. LogisticRegression models corroborated methyl isobutyl ketone, benzeneacetaldehyde, phenyl ethyl alcohol, skatole, and acetic acid as ASD predictors. Conclusion Our results will aid the development of advanced clinical decision support systems (CDSSs), assisted by ML models, for advanced ASD-personalized medicine, based on omics data integrated into electronic health/medical records. Furthermore, new ASD screening strategies based on GM-related predictors could be used to improve ASD risk assessment by uncovering novel ASD onset and risk predictors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Vernocchi
- Research Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Marangelo
- Research Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Guerrera
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Del Chierico
- Research Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ianiro
- CEMAD Digestive Disease Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- CEMAD Digestive Disease Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Life Sciences and Public Health Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Putignani
- Unit of Microbiomics and Research Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Hus Y. Frozen in Time, a Focused Review of Autism Prevalence in Canadian Indigenous Communities. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:2451-2468. [PMID: 38029046 PMCID: PMC10658944 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s439450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented global continuous rise in autism prevalence is often referred to as a Pandemic while its parallel cost increase to society portrays a Tsunami. Autism data originates mostly from industrialized High-Income geopolitical regions in Europe, North America, and Asian regions. Although efforts to determine autism data from regions in Low and Mid-economies are ongoing, prevalence information from geographically remote and economically vulnerable communities within the privileged regions is largely undetermined, as is the case of the Canadian Indigenous communities, the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis highlighted in this focused review. The underlying theoretical approach adopted here is Transcultural Psychiatry with its emphasis on Context including sociopolitical circumstances, considered the gateway to understanding health, illness, and recovery in groups and individuals. Accordingly, the review includes a concise relevant government system description and history of the relations with Indigenous peoples to provide context to present indigenous relations to Canadian government agencies. Scores in these communities face a myriad of survival challenges encompassing meagre health resources and services. Establishing autism prevalence data in these communities are exceedingly difficult due to multiple factors. While prominent among them are their strong ties to traditional approaches to health, illness, and autism conceptualization, the crucial obstacle is Crown and Provincial government authorities' and agencies' historically rooted colonial response to the needs of families with autistic members. It embodies a posture of infantilization, an attitude that is "frozen in time" in the approach, practice, accommodations, and services for these families. The review provides the preferred autism terminology, information sources, article flow, and Future Directions, all found in the Introduction's first paragraphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Hus
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Theralab Research Director Prof. Kakia Petinou, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
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Dell’Osso L, Amatori G, Carpita B, Massimetti G, Nardi B, Gravina D, Benedetti F, Bonelli C, Casagrande D, Luciano M, Berardelli I, Brondino N, De Gregorio M, Deste G, Nola M, Reitano A, Muscatello MRA, Pompili M, Politi P, Vita A, Maj M. The mediating effect of mood spectrum on the relationship between autistic traits and catatonia spectrum. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1092193. [PMID: 37547215 PMCID: PMC10397411 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1092193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the recent years, several studies have shown a correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and catatonia. It is also known that both conditions are found to be associated with mood disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between autistic traits and catatonic symptoms, as well as the potential mediating role of mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between them. Methods The total sample of 514 subjects was composed by four diagnostic groups, composed by patients affected by catatonia (CTN), borderline personality disorder (BPD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). Subjects were assessed with the SCID-5-RV, the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) and the Catatonia Spectrum (CS) and the Mood Spectrum Self-Report (MOODS-SR). Statistical analyses included Pearson's coefficient calculation, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis. Results all the correlations appear to be strongly positive and significant with the strongest coefficient emerging between AdAS Spectrum total score and CS total score (r = 0.762, p < 0.001). The Mediation Analysis showed that AdAS Spectrum total score showed a significant indirect effect on CS total score through MOODS-SR total score (b = 0.168, 95% bootstrapped CI [0.127:0.207]). Conclusion The present study highlights the presence of a mediating role of the mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between autistic traits and the catatonia spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Dell’Osso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Amatori
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Carpita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Massimetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nardi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide Gravina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Benedetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Danila Casagrande
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Luciano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Isabella Berardelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sense Organs, University of Roma “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Natascia Brondino
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marianna De Gregorio
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Nola
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonino Reitano
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sense Organs, University of Roma “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Politi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
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Dawe S, Eggins E, Betts J, Webster H, Pomario T, Doak J, Chandler-Mather N, Hatzis D, Till H, Harnett P, Wood A, Shelton D. An investigation of the utility of the Australian Guide to the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in young children. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2023; 47:486-500. [PMID: 36810987 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) assists in implementing critical early support. The challenge lies in having a diagnostic process that enables valid and reliable assessment of domains of functioning in young children, with the added complexity that many children will also have co-occurring exposure to childhood adversity that is likely to impact these domains. METHODS The aim of this study was to test a diagnostic assessment of FASD in young children using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD. Ninety-four children (aged 3 to 7 years) with confirmed or suspected prenatal alcohol exposure were referred to two specialist FASD clinics for assessment in Queensland, Australia. RESULTS There was a significant risk profile with 68.1% (n = 64) children having had contact with child protection services, and most children living in kinship (n = 22, 27.7%) or foster (n = 36, 40.4%) care. Forty-one percent of the children were Indigenous Australians. The majority (64.9%, n = 61) of children met criteria for FASD, 30.9% were classified as "At Risk" for FASD (n = 29), and 4.3% received no FASD diagnosis (n = 4). Only 4 (4%) children were rated as severe for the brain domain. Over 60% of children (n = 58) had two or more comorbid diagnoses. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the removal of comorbid diagnoses in the Attention, Affect Regulation, or Adaptive Functioning domains resulted in a change in 7 of 47 cases (15%) to an "At Risk" designation. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the complexity of presentation and the extent of impairment in the sample. The use of comorbid diagnoses to substantiate a "severe" designation in specific neurodevelopmental domains raises the question of whether there were false-positive diagnoses. The complexity of determining causal relationships between exposure to PAE and early life adversity on developmental outcomes continues to be a challenge in this young population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Dawe
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Eggins
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joseph Betts
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Heidi Webster
- Child Development Service, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tania Pomario
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jessica Doak
- School of Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ned Chandler-Mather
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Denise Hatzis
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haydn Till
- Child Development Service, Gold Coast Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Harnett
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Wood
- School of Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Doug Shelton
- Child Development Service, Gold Coast Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Alhowail A. Mechanisms Underlying Cognitive Impairment Induced by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12121667. [PMID: 36552126 PMCID: PMC9775935 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12121667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used illicit substances among pregnant women. Clinical and experimental studies have revealed that prenatal alcohol exposure affects fetal brain development and ultimately results in the persistent impairment of the offspring's cognitive functions. Despite this, the rate of alcohol use among pregnant women has been progressively increasing. Various aspects of human and animal behavior, including learning and memory, are dependent on complex interactions between multiple mechanisms, such as receptor function, mitochondrial function, and protein kinase activation, which are especially vulnerable to alterations during the developmental period. Thus, the exploration of the mechanisms that are altered in response to prenatal alcohol exposure is necessary to develop an understanding of how homeostatic imbalance and various long-term neurobehavioral impairments manifest following alcohol abuse during pregnancy. There is evidence that prenatal alcohol exposure results in vast alterations in mechanisms such as long-term potentiation, mitochondrial function, and protein kinase activation in the brain of offspring. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are very few recent reviews that focus on the cognitive effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and the associated mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the recently reported alterations to various mechanisms following alcohol exposure during pregnancy, and to draw potential associations with behavioral changes in affected offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Alhowail
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Al Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
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