The Role of Serotonin in Autism-Spectrum Disorders

CNS Spectrums ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 25-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc N. Potenza ◽  
Christopher J. Mcdougle
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pervasive Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Serotonergic Dysfunction

AbstractWhile the etiologies of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) appear complicated, multifactorial, and relatively poorly understood research over the last 30 to 40 years has implicated certain neurochemicals in the pathophysiology of these diseases. From these studies, a great deal of evidence has emerged supporting a role for serotonergic dysfunction in individuals with autism and related disorders. Recent clinical trials of drugs influencing serotonergic systems have demonstrated promising effects in children, adolescents, and adults with PDDs.

scholarly journals Current Approaches to Differential Diagnostics of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Similar Conditions

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Elena A. Chereneva ◽  
Irina Ya. Stoyanova ◽  
Olga L. Belyaeva
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pervasive Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Stereotyped Behavior ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Differential Diagnostics ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders ASD is a group of pervasive developmental disorders, manifested mainly through the lack of ability to social interaction, communication disruption and stereotyped behavior. Despite of generally recognized practical and theoretical significance of studying the mechanisms of formation, it still has got little attention. The article represents some approaches to differential diagnosis of autism and similar conditions. The authors make an attempt to find out the main reasons for such sharp increase in the number of patients suffering from this disease. The article aims analysis of existing research and contains the results of complex diagnostics and the mechanisms of disorders formation. In solving the problem of ASD formation mechanisms, clinical data, medical history data, genetic confounding factors and course of prenatal, natal and postnatal periods are used. In their findings, the authors develop the technology for ASD and similar conditions differential diagnostics; diagnostic markers and algorithm for the development of psychological and pedagogical treatment programs are suggested

scholarly journals Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Are These Disorders One and the Same?

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Tateno ◽  
Saya Kikuchi ◽  
Kumi Uehara ◽  
Kyoko Fukita ◽  
Naoki Uchida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pervasive Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Handling the Psychological Distress of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders:

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Indiramma V ◽  
Seema P Uthaman ◽  
Shoba Srinath
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Pervasive Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders are pervasive developmental disorders affecting many children today. Parenting a child with special needs, such as children with autism, is very taxing, as they need intensive and life-long intervention in diverse areas. This paper is an attempt to assess the need of those parents of children with autism and to develop an intervention programme to take care of the psychosocial issues. The study had two phases. In the first phase 120 parents of children with autism spectrum disorders were interviewed using a semi structured interview schedule and GHQ 28. In the second phase,   an intervention module was prepared and implemented with 20 parents. The results show that the mean psychological distress was significantly higher for mothers compared to fathers. The scores on subscales show that mothers have higher level of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and depression compared to fathers. The pre and post analysis of the group intervention shows that there is a drop in the level of distress and increase in the awareness on child’s illness in parents after the group intervention. The findings show that addressing parental needs in a group setting can be very effective and beneficial in helping parents reduce their distress levels and hence making them better equipped to look after their child with a disability like autism. Keywords: Autism, parent intervention module, psychological distress, group work

Differential diagnosis of adolescent and adult pervasive developmental disorders/autism spectrum disorders (PDD/ASD): a not uncommon diagnostic dilemma

1999 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pervasive Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Core Deficit ◽  
Adult Psychiatry ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

The failure to recognise the pervasive developmental disorders/autism spectrum disorders is probably not uncommon in adult psychiatry. Indeed some of the treatment-resistant chronic mental illnesses are due to the failure to make this diagnosis and apply more appropriate treatment.Patients with PDD/ASD cause considerable diagnostic difficulties in both inpatient and outpatient adolescent and adult psychiatry. Clinical experience suggests that patients with PDD/ASD in adulthood have been misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia resulting in inappropriate treatment. Mesibov and Handlan state that the diagnostic situation is complicated because the characteristics of autism are less pronounced in older clients. It is critical that an accurate diagnosis is given because of the specific treatment implications. In the past decade there have been considerable developments in our understanding of autism. The importance of bringing the developmental viewpoint into adult psychiatry is now highly relevant. Unfamiliar diagnostic categories now have to be considered by adolescent and adult psychiatrists. Grounds for the deletion of adult psychiatric disorders, eg. simple schizophrenia from ICD102 may exist. Instead PDD/ASD disorder may need to be considered.As the purpose of diagnosis is to ensure appropriate client management, it is essential that diagnostic criteria are continually reviewed in view of clinical observation and research developments. In this paper, diagnostic categories causing confusion are outlined, and that these are variants of the core deficit of autism is suggested. The major PDD/ASD diagnoses in adolescence and adulthood are listed below.Two of the following are required for the diagnosis of autism:

scholarly journals Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Gut Microbiota

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Fattorusso ◽  
Lorenza Di Genova ◽  
Giovanni Dell’Isola ◽  
Elisabetta Mencaroni ◽  
Susanna Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Gut Dysbiosis ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

In recent years, there has been an emerging interest in the possible role of the gut microbiota as a co-factor in the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), as many studies have highlighted the bidirectional communication between the gut and brain (the so-called “gut-brain axis”). Accumulating evidence has shown a link between alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota and both gastrointestinal and neurobehavioural symptoms in children with ASD. The aim of this narrative review was to analyse the current knowledge about dysbiosis and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in ASD and assess the current evidence for the role of probiotics and other non-pharmacological approaches in the treatment of children with ASD. Analysis of the literature showed that gut dysbiosis in ASD has been widely demonstrated; however, there is no single distinctive profile of the composition of the microbiota in people with ASD. Gut dysbiosis could contribute to the low-grade systemic inflammatory state reported in patients with GI comorbidities. The administration of probiotics (mostly a mixture of Bifidobacteria, Streptococci and Lactobacilli) is the most promising treatment for neurobehavioural symptoms and bowel dysfunction, but clinical trials are still limited and heterogeneous. Well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are required to validate the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of ASD and to identify the appropriate strains, dose, and timing of treatment.

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