scholarly journals An Initial Examination of Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenging Child Behaviors as Criterion A Traumatic Stressors

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1527-1536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Schnabel ◽  
David J. Hallford ◽  
Michelle Stewart ◽  
Jane A. McGillivray ◽  
David Forbes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Child Behaviors ◽  
Initial Examination ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Traumatic Stressors

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An unexplored co-occurrence of conditions

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 884-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirit Haruvi-Lamdan ◽  
Danny Horesh ◽  
Shani Zohar ◽  
Meital Kraus ◽  
Ofer Golan
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Post Traumatic

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder show an increased risk of experiencing potentially traumatic events, particularly social victimization. However, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder co-occurrence was hardly studied. We examined exposure to potentially traumatic life events and PTSD symptoms in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder vs typical adults. Twenty-five adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and 25 typical adults were comparable on age and gender. Participants self-reported on potentially traumatic life events of social and non-social nature, and on PTSD symptoms related to their most distressing event. Results showed higher rates of probable-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Autism Spectrum Disorder group (32%) compared with the typical adults group (4%). Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder reported more PTSD symptoms, particularly re-experiencing and hyper-arousal, compared with typical adults, although the latter was elevated only in females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder, especially females, reported more negative life events, particularly social events, than typical adults. Sixty percent of Autism Spectrum Disorder participants, but only 20% of typical adults, chose a social event as their most distressing event. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and probable-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder co-occurrence presented poorer social skills compared with those with Autism Spectrum Disorder alone. Results indicate increased vulnerability of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder to trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, especially due to social stressors. Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder may be particularly vulnerable to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Lay Abstract People with Autism Spectrum Disorder show an increased risk of experiencing traumatic events, particularly social victimization. However, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder co-occurrence was hardly studied. We examined exposure to traumatic life events and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder vs typical adults. Two groups took part in this study: Twenty-five adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and 25 typical adults of similar age and male to female ratio. Participants completed questionnaires on potentially traumatic life events of social and non-social nature, as well as on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms related to their most distressing event. Participants also filled out an autism traits questionnaire. Results showed a higher Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder rate in the Autism Spectrum Disorder group (32%) compared with the typical group (4%). Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder reported more Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, particularly re-experiencing and increased physiological arousal, compared with typical adults, although the latter was elevated only in females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder, especially females, reported more negative life events, particularly social events, than typical adults. Sixty percent of Autism Spectrum Disorder participants, but only 20% of typical participants, chose a social event as their most distressing event. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder who were also suspected as having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (based on their questionnaires) presented poorer social skills compared with those with Autism Spectrum Disorder alone. Results indicate that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder are more susceptible to trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, particularly due to social stressors. Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder may be especially vulnerable to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Dopamine’s Role in Six Psychiatric Illnesses

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa Wang
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Attention Deficit Disorder ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Firing Time ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Psychiatric Illnesses ◽  
Motivated Behavior ◽  
Post Traumatic

This paper aims to investigate the neurotransmitter dopamine’s role in six prevalent psychiatric disorders: attention-deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia. Although dopamine’s contribution to schizophrenia is the most understood, dopamine’s role in other disorders is also an increasing area of research. Dopamine affects reward-motivated behavior, motor control, cognition, and possesses many other sub-functions as well. Dysfunction in dopamine firing rate, firing time, tonic and phasic levels, and receptor and transporter density can lead to numerous diseases and symptoms. Having a better understanding of how dopamine affects these illnesses specifically can lead to the development of more effective treatment and medication. Thus, the analysis of the studies and proposals for how dopamine is involved in various mental disorders are discussed in this review. 

What explains post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK service personnel: deployment or something else?

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1703-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jones ◽  
J. Sundin ◽  
L. Goodwin ◽  
L. Hull ◽  
N. T. Fear ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Traumatic Stressors

BackgroundIn previous studies an association between deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and an overall increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK armed forces has not been found. The lack of a deployment effect might be explained by including, in the comparison group, personnel deployed on other operations or who have experienced traumatic stressors unrelated to deployment.MethodsThe sample comprised 8261 regular UK armed forces personnel who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or other operational areas or were not deployed. Participants completed the PTSD CheckList – Civilian Version (PCL-C) and provided information about deployment history, demographic and service factors, serious accidents and childhood experiences.ResultsDeployment to Iraq or Afghanistan [odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6–2.2] or elsewhere (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6–2.0) was unrelated to PTSD although holding a combat role was associated with PTSD if deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9–3.9). Childhood adversity (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–5.0), having left service (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9–4.0) and serious accident (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.0) were associated with PTSD whereas higher rank was protective (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.12–0.76).ConclusionsFor the majority of UK armed forces personnel, deployment whether to Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere confers no greater risk for PTSD than service in the armed forcesper sebut holding a combat role in those deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan is associated with PTSD. Vulnerability factors such as lower rank, childhood adversity and leaving service, and having had a serious accident, may be at least as important as holding a combat role in predicting PTSD in UK armed forces personnel.

The Association Between Autistic Traits and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Preliminary Findings Among Typically-developing Adults in Israel

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S137-S137 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Horesh ◽  
N. Haruvi-Lamdan ◽  
S. Lebendiger ◽  
O. Golan
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Post Traumatic

Background and aimsAlthough studies show that those suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face an increased risk of exposure to trauma (bullying, physical abuse), the co-morbidity between autistic symptoms/traits and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was almost entirely neglected by researchers. The aim of this preliminary study is to explore the possible associations between these two conditions among typically-developing college students.MethodsParticipants were 39 students, recruited from 2 Israeli universities. Twenty-four participants were psychology students, and 15 were business administration students. Participants completed self-report questionnaires tapping sociodemographic background, trauma exposure, PTSD (the PTSD Checklist-5, PCL-5), and autistic traits (the Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ).ResultsOur preliminary findings revealed a positive association between symptoms of PTSD and autistic traits. More specifically, among those in the 3rd and 4th highest quartiles of AQ scores, 87.5% met the cut-off score for a probable PTSD diagnosis (χ2 (3) = 8.25, P < 0.05). In addition, t-tests comparing the PTSD and non-PTSD groups showed significant differences in 3 out of 5 AQ sub-scales: social skill (t(37) = –2.12; P < 0.05), attention switching (t(37) = −2.09; P < 0.05) and communication (t(37) = −2.80; P < 0.01). Thus, higher AQ scores were reported by those in the PTSD group.ConclusionsASD may serve as a significant risk factor for post-traumatic symptomatology. The associations between these two conditions may be mediated by a variety of potential shared vulnerabilities, including increased rumination, dysregulated emotion and impaired social cognition. Further research is needed in order to explore these mechanisms, as well as to assess co-morbidity in clinical samples of both ASD and PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document