scholarly journals Increased Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders at Short and Long Interpregnancy Intervals in Finland

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1074-1081.e4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keely Cheslack-Postava ◽  
Auli Suominen ◽  
Elina Jokiranta ◽  
Venla Lehti ◽  
Ian W. McKeague ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Dominique H. Como ◽  
Leah I. Stein Duker ◽  
José C. Polido ◽  
Sharon A. Cermak

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at risk for oral health disparities. With the dramatic rise in ASD prevalence to 1 in 54 children, it is likely that an increasing number of dental practitioners will encounter or be asked to treat children with ASD. This paper reviews explanations related to the increasing prevalence of ASD, provides reasons why children with ASD are at increased risk for poor oral health, and discusses unique interprofessional collaborations between dental practitioners and occupational therapists. Occupational therapists and dentists can work together to plan modifications to the dental environment or adapt dental protocols to reduce some of the barriers encountered by those with ASD, provide desensitization strategies before the clinic visit, or help a child with emotional regulation during clinical treatments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X1501604
Author(s):  
Richard W. Auger

The number of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has risen significantly in recent years (CDC, 2012), and students with ASD present unique challenges to schools and school counselors. This article presents a synthesis of recent research literature related to ASD for the purpose of providing school counselors with assistance in understanding and addressing the needs of students with ASD. Specific areas of focus include the prevalence, developmental course, and defining characteristics of ASD, and research on the effectiveness of interventions for students with ASD. Students with ASD are at increased risk for a range of problems, including social deficits and limitations, anxiety, aggression, peer victimization, and underachievement (Ashburner, Ziviani, & Rodger, 2010). Interventions to address the social deficits of students with ASD have shown promise but also have been found to lack results that are generalizable and that persist over time (Schreiber, 2011). This article provides specific recommendations for school counselors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Butwicka ◽  
Niklas Långström ◽  
Henrik Larsson ◽  
Sebastian Lundström ◽  
Eva Serlachius ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ostuzzi ◽  
C. Barbui

A possible link between prenatal exposure to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), previously suggested by two case-control studies, was not confirmed by a recent cohort study that followed for 5–10 years more than 600,000 births. However, this study failed to demonstrate that SSRI exposure during pregnancy is safe in terms of child development outcomes, as an increased risk of ASDs cannot be completely ruled out. In the present article, the main strengths and weaknesses of this study are briefly analysed, including a possibility of confounding by indication.


Author(s):  
Lauren J. Moskowitz ◽  
Emile Mulder ◽  
Caitlin E. Walsh ◽  
Darlene Magito McLaughlin ◽  
Jennifer R. Zarcone ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite the increased risk for anxiety disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), there is a lack of research on the assessment and treatment of anxiety in this population, particularly for those with an intellectual disability (ID). The present study evaluated a multimethod strategy for the assessment of anxiety and problem behavior in three children with ASD and ID. Anxiety was operationally defined using: (1) behavioral data from anxious behaviors, (2) affective/contextual data from parent-report and observer ratings of overall anxiety, and (3) physiological data (heart rate [HR] and respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]). A functional assessment of problem behavior during high- and low-anxiety conditions was conducted. Higher levels of problem behavior and HR and lower RSA were found in the high-anxiety than in the low-anxiety conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 489-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Ormstad ◽  
Vesna Bryn ◽  
Ola Didrik Saugstad ◽  
Ola Skjeldal ◽  
Michael Maes

Background: The evidence based supports that multifactorial and complex immune interactions play a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but contradictory findings are also reported. Objective: The aim of this selective review was to identify trends in the research literature on this topic, focusing on immunology and other aberrations with respect to the different ASD subtypes. Methods: This selective review is based on original and review articles written in English and identified in literature searches of PubMed. Results: Several studies have found that the risk of ASD is greater among children whose mothers suffered from autoimmune diseases while pregnant. Moreover, individuals with ASD show increased levels of antibodies that are specific for several specific proteins. Studies also show that mothers of children with ASD have antibodies against fetal brain proteins. There are also reports on the associations between increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and ASD. Finally, infections in mothers during pregnancy are linked to an increased risk of ASD. Conclusion: We propose that the large inconsistencies in findings among studies in the field are due to differences in subdiagnoses among the included children with ASD. Well-phenotyped ASD samples are needed to understand the biological and immunological mechanisms underpinning ASD and its subdiagnoses. Future research should apply new strategies to scrutinize the link between ASD and changes in immune responsivity. Important new research avenues are to investigate the associations (a) between different ASD phenotypes and aberrations in (auto)immune pathways and (b) between reduced natural regulatory autoimmune responses during pregnancy, which are in turn associated with increased oxidative and nitrosative stress in maternal blood and putative detrimental effects in the offspring.


Author(s):  
Clare Sarah Allely

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the research which has examined the link between autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and offending behaviour and the impact of prison on individuals with ASDs. Studies suggest that inmates with ASDs may be at an increased risk of bullying, confrontations, exploitation, anxiety and social isolation as a result of their ASD traits such as obsessions, social naivety and impaired empathy. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of the literature. Findings – The review identifies a modest amount of studies (n=4) which have explored the experience of individuals with ASD in prison and highlights that inmates with ASDs face a multitude of problems when they enter prison. Despite an extensive literature search only one study was identified which investigated the knowledge and understanding of ASDs amongst prison staff. Research limitations/implications – Further research is urgently needed to consider the specific problems faced by inmates with ASD, to identify how to make the prison environment safer and more supportive for inmates with ASD and how to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. Practical implications – This review highlights that, to date, there has been relatively little to guide service design in order to develop support services for individuals with ASD in prison. There has been a scarcity of studies investigating the effectiveness of various treatment models to target offending behaviour in individuals with ASD. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need to study and identify the specific problems faced by inmates with ASD and to identify changes which are required to provide an environment in prison which is safer and more supportive.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaja Hanna Karakuła ◽  
Olga Padała ◽  
Aleksander Ryczkowski ◽  
Alicja Forma ◽  
Dariusz Juchnowicz

Summary Introduction: There is an ongoing debate as to whether the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by pregnant women increases the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring. Aim: The aim of the study was to 1) present, based on a case report, the potential factors that may affect the development of ASD in a child, 2) review the literature on the risk of ASD in the case of using SSRIs by a pregnant woman. Case report: The case report concerns a child of a 33-year-old patient, previously treated for an episode of depression at the age of 23. At the beginning of the 15th week of planned pregnancy, when she was 28 years old, sleep disturbances were observed. Over the next few weeks, she gradually developed a full-blown depressive syndrome which required the use of sertraline. The child was born through a natural delivery, a healthy boy, who was diagnosed with ASD at the age of 2.5 years, which was the trigger for the development of the third episode of depression in the patient. Conclusions: The results of the research indicate that SSRIs can penetrate the placental barrier, influencing the processes of serotoninergic transmission in the fetus, disrupting neurodevelopmental processes. On the other hand, a higher risk of ASD development in children of depressed mothers who do not use pharmacotherapy was confirmed, compared to the general population and in the case of the occurrence of depressive episodes in mother in the past and in relation to the male fetuses. The greater risk of ASD in children of mothers who take SSRIs may not only be associated with the medication itself but also with the presence of depression and the probable common genetic basis for both disorders. In each case, other risk factors for the development of ASD should also be taken into consideration, e.g. vitamin D3 deficiencies, unsaturated fatty acids, oxytocin levels, the presence of intestinal dysbiosis.


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