scholarly journals The Effectiveness of RAADS-R as a Screening Tool for Adult ASD Populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sarah L Jones ◽  
Maria Johnson ◽  
Bronwen Alty ◽  
Marios Adamou
Keyword(s):  
Screening Tool ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Report Measure

Adult referrals to specialist autism spectrum disorder diagnostic services have increased in recent years, placing strain on existing services. It was proposed that the Ritvo Autism Asperger’s Diagnostic Scale could be used as a screening tool, in order to identify and prioritise patients most likely to receive an ASD diagnosis. This study evaluates the validity of the RAADS-R as a screening tool for ASD in an adult population. Retrospective case note analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of the RAADS-R as a screening tool to predict ASD diagnostic outcomes in 50 service users of a NHS specialist autism service. Results indicate no association between RAADS-R scores and clinical diagnostic outcome, suggesting the RAADS-R is not an effective screening tool for identifying service users most likely to receive an ASD diagnosis. In conclusion, used as a self-report measure pre-full diagnostic assessment, the RAADS-R lacks predictive validity and is not a suitable screening tool for adults awaiting autism assessments. Future research should aim to identify reliable screening tools for this purpose.

scholarly journals Psychometric concerns with the 10-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) as a measure of trait autism in the general population

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C. Taylor ◽  
Lucy A. Livingston ◽  
Rachel A. Clutterbuck ◽  
Punit Shah
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Diagnostic Screening

AbstractThe 10-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) is a self-report questionnaire used in clinical and research settings as a diagnostic screening tool for autism in adults. The AQ10 is also increasingly being used to quantify trait autism along a unitary dimension and correlated against performance on other psychological/medical tasks. However, its psychometric properties have yet to be examined when used in this way. By analysing AQ10 data from a large non-clinical sample of adults (n = 6,595), we found that the AQ10 does not have a unifactorial factor structure, and instead appears to have several factors. The AQ10 also had poor internal reliability. Taken together, whilst the AQ10 has important clinical utility in screening for diagnosable autism, it may not be a psychometrically robust measure when administered in non-clinical samples from the general population. Therefore, we caution against its use as a measure of trait autism in future research.

scholarly journals Global Impact of COVID-19 on Weight and Weight-Related Behaviors in the Adult Population: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1876
Author(s):  
Han Shi Jocelyn Chew ◽  
Violeta Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To provide an overview of what is known about the impact of COVID-19 on weight and weight-related behaviors. Methods: Systematic scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley methodology. Results: A total of 19 out of 396 articles were included. All studies were conducted using online self-report surveys. The average age of respondents ranged from 19 to 47 years old, comprised of more females. Almost one-half and one-fifth of the respondents gained and lost weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Among articles that examined weight, diet and physical activity changes concurrently, weight gain was reported alongside a 36.3% to 59.6% increase in total food consumption and a 67.4% to 61.4% decrease in physical activities. Weight gain predictors included female sex, middle-age, increased appetite, snacking after dinner, less physical exercise, sedentary behaviors of ≥6 h/day, low water consumption and less sleep at night. Included articles did not illustrate significant associations between alcohol consumption, screen time, education, place of living and employment status, although sedentary behaviors, including screen time, did increase significantly. Conclusions: Examining behavioral differences alone is insufficient in predicting weight status. Future research could examine differences in personality and coping mechanisms to design more personalized and effective weight management interventions.

scholarly journals Neural correlates of interpersonal space permeability and flexibility in autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Massaccesi ◽  
Alexander Groessing ◽  
Lisa A. Rosenberger ◽  
Helena Hartmann ◽  
Michela Candini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Effective Connectivity ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Trust Game ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Adults With Asd ◽  
Interpersonal Space

AbstractInterpersonal space can be defined as a safety zone immediately surrounding our body, which allows us to feel comfortable during social interactions. Previous studies indicate that the size of interpersonal space at which the other is perceived as intrusive (permeability) and the ability to adapt interpersonal distance based on contextual factors (flexibility) are altered in children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present fMRI study aimed at extending the previous findings by investigating the behavioral and neurophysiological underpinnings of interpersonal space permeability and flexibility in adults with ASD.Individuals with ASD and matched controls (CTR) performed a modified version of the stop-distance paradigm for measuring interpersonal space preferences. Participants observed prerecorded videos of two confederates moving towards them and rated their comfort to the observed distance. The assessment of interpersonal space preferences was performed before and after engaging in cooperative and non-cooperative social interactions with the confederates, experimentally induced by means of a repeated trust game.We observed general lower comfort in response to an approaching confederate in the ASD group compared to the CTR group, indicating preference for larger interpersonal space in autism (altered permeability). This preference was accompanied by reduced activity in bilateral dorsal intraparietal sulcus (dIPS) and left fusiform face area (FFA), regions previously shown to be involved in interpersonal space regulation. Furthermore, we observed differences in effective connectivity among dIPS, FFA, and amygdala in ASDs compared to CTRs, depending on the level of experienced comfort. No differences between ASDs and CTRs were observed in the adaptation of interpersonal space following a cooperative and non-cooperative social interaction, suggesting preserved interpersonal space flexibility in the ASD adult population.The present study provides evidence for impaired permeability of interpersonal space in adults with ASD. The findings suggest that a dysregulation of the activity and connectivity of brain areas involved in the processing of interpersonal space may contribute to preference for larger distance and avoidance of physical proximity in ASDs. Future research is needed to examine whether the observed alteration of interpersonal space processing is an effect of or a contributing factor to the social disabilities characterizing autism.

Uncontrolled, Repetitive Eating of Small Amounts of Food or ‘Grazing’: Development and Evaluation of a New Measure of Atypical Eating

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Lane ◽  
Marianna Szabó
Keyword(s):  
Binge Eating ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Loss Of Control ◽  
Eating Pattern ◽  
Study Questionnaire ◽  
Report Measure

Grazing, or the uncontrolled, repetitive eating of small amounts of food is being increasingly recognised as an important eating behaviour associated with obesity. In spite of the need for a better understanding of this eating behaviour for improved obesity treatment, currently there is no empirically validated self-report measure to assess grazing. Therefore, to contribute to a better understanding of this relatively understudied eating pattern, a new self-report questionnaire of grazing was developed in this study. Questionnaire items were designed to reflect previous empirical descriptions of grazing. A group of 248 university students completed the Grazing Questionnaire, other measures of eating-related behaviours and cognitions, and negative emotion. Sixty-two participants completed the Grazing Questionnaire a second time to calculate its temporal stability. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a clear two-factor solution for the questionnaire, reflecting repetitive eating behaviour and a perception of loss of control. Scores on the Grazing Questionnaire were positively associated with other measures of disordered eating, especially with binge eating. Initial psychometric properties of the new questionnaire are promising. Future research is now needed to examine the prevalence of this eating behaviour in more diverse populations, including those with binge eating disorder and obesity.

scholarly journals A Critical Evaluation of the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Müller ◽  
Leon Patrick Wendt ◽  
Carsten Spitzer ◽  
Oliver Masuhr ◽  
Sarah N. Back ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Reflective Functioning ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Psychological Impairment ◽  
Latent Dimension ◽  
Report Measure

The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ-8) is a short self-report measure of reflective functioning (i.e., the ability to understand mental states of the self and others) that is presumed to capture individual differences in hypo- and hypermentalizing. Despite its broad acceptance by the field and its regular use in primary investigations of the construct, we argue that the validity of the measure is still not well established. The current research elaborates on why the proposed scoring procedure may be methodologically problematic, the item content might not sufficiently cover the full breadth of the mentalizing construct, and it is unclear whether the measure captures mentalizing processes in particular or rather general psychological impairment. In a clinical sample (N = 861) and a sample of young adults (N = 566), we explore these critical considerations and demonstrate that the RFQ-8 may assess a single latent dimension related to hypomentalizing, but provides little unique variance above and beyond broad dimensions of personality pathology and is unlikely to capture maladaptive forms of hypermentalizing. The findings cast doubt on the validity of the RFQ-8 as a measure of reflective functioning. Future research should increase validation efforts concerning the RFQ-8 or develop new measures of reflective functioning.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Behavioural and Self-Reported Cognitive Empathy Deficits in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Adolescents With Behavioural Difficulties

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara P. Vilas ◽  
Renate L. E. P. Reniers ◽  
Amanda K. Ludlow
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Empathic Accuracy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Behavioural Difficulties ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Report Measure ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Deficits in empathy have been considered hallmarks in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but are also considered to underlie antisocial behaviour associated with individuals with callous unemotional traits (CU). Research has suggested that individuals with autism spectrum disorders show more difficulties with cognitive empathy, and that individuals diagnosed with behaviours difficulties, characterised by CU traits and antisocial behaviour, demonstrate low affective empathy. In the current manuscript we present findings of two studies. The first study describes the validation of a new stimulus set developed for the empathic accuracy task, focused on its cognitive component. The second study compares the performance of 27 adolescents with ASD, 27 age matched typically developing adolescents and 17 adolescents with behavioural difficulties on the empathic accuracy task and a self-report measure of empathy. While, no differences were observed between the three groups across the empathy accuracy task, the adolescents with ASD and CD showed deficits in their cognitive empathy across the self-report measure. Adolescents with ASD showed lower scores in particularly their perspective taking abilities, whereas the adolescences with behavioural difficulties showed more difficulties with their online simulation. No differences in self-reported affective empathy across the three groups were observed. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Early Stage in Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Through Screening and Diagnosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 660-663
Keyword(s):  
Screening Tool ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Treatment Method ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Early Screening ◽  
Positive Score ◽  
Screening And Diagnosis

The objective of the paper was to evaluate developed screening tools on autism students’ as early detection detect early signs especially on visual for ASD children. The outcomes of early intervention in ASD can be improved but it depends types of the treatment. Method of collecting data was using tool, observation and interview. In design, flowchart and storyboard are produced. While in development stage, learning media and materials are presented with visualization in the form of sound, text, videos and pictures. The results of this study are a positive score and feedback from children with ASD. They are easy to focus in using this tool instead of conventional screening tool. The students really attract to something that related to technology. However, the suggestion of a screening for ASD when concerning from their parents or family. The quality of the instruments and screening procedure are the challenges faced during the process. The advantages of early screening and detection among ASD is very to avoid parents unnecessary worry among parents.

scholarly journals Do early caregiver concerns differ for girls with autism spectrum disorders?

Autism ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 728-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M Little ◽  
Anna Wallisch ◽  
Brenda Salley ◽  
Rene Jamison
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Developmental Disability ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
To Receive

Given that early caregiver concerns may be different for children who go on to receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder versus another developmental disability, early caregiver concerns may differ for girls. Using a community-based sample of children (n = 241), we examined the extent to which gender differences may be related to caregiver concerns prior to a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disability. Participants were matched on chronological age, and cognitive functioning did not differ across groups. Using caregiver concern data, results showed that boys with autism spectrum disorder showed increased social interaction concerns; overall, autism spectrum disorder–related concerns did not differentiate those with autism spectrum disorder from developmental disability. Children with developmental disability, however, showed increased general developmental concerns as compared to those with autism spectrum disorder. Young girls with autism spectrum disorder may demonstrate behaviors that are not particularly salient or concerning for parents; future research may investigate the behaviors that differentiate girls with autism spectrum disorder early in development.

Motivations for Self-Defensive Aggression in Dating Relationships

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 662-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan C. Shorey ◽  
Christine Meltzer ◽  
Tara L. Cornelius
Keyword(s):  
Dating Violence ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Female College Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dating Relationships ◽  
Self Defense ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Report Measure

Previous research has suggested that the occurrence of dating violence is influenced by various motivations, including self-defense. While some data have suggested that females are more likely to use physical aggression in self-defense, assessment measures of self-defense have been limited in several notable ways, hindering efforts at fully understanding the myriad of reasons contributing to self-defensive aggression. The current study sought to examine motivations for physical aggression among male and female college students using a contextual self-report measure of self-defensive aggression designed specifically for the current study. Results showed that numerous motivations for physical aggression were endorsed by both males and females and, contrary to expectations, females were not more likely to use aggression in self-defense. Implications of these findings for future research and dating violence prevention programming are discussed.

scholarly journals Co-Occurrence of ASD and ADHD Traits in an Adult Population

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 1407-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Panagiotidi ◽  
Paul G. Overton ◽  
Tom Stafford
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Common Etiology

Objective: ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be viewed as the extreme end of traits found in the general population. Clinical and genetic studies suggest that ADHD and ASD often co-occur and share genetic susceptibility. The aim of this study was to examine co-occurrence of ADHD and ASD traits in the general population. Method: In total, 334 participants were recruited from a population-based sample. Four questionnaires assessing current and retrospective ADHD and ASD traits were administered online: the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Symptom Checklist, the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-25), the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ), and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Results: A significant correlation was found between ADHD and autistic traits. In particular, higher inattention and overall ADHD scores were associated with self-reported deficits in communication and social skills. Conclusion: Our findings are similar to results from studies on clinical populations, suggesting that ADHD and ASD might share common etiology.

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