Autism research efforts highlighted in biological psychiatry special issue

The field of global autism research lost a pioneer, champion, and innovator with the passing of Dr Li-Ching Lee in May 2021. Dr Lee served as the editor for a special issue in Autism on global autism research (2017, Volume 21, Issue 5) and her substantial impact on autism research and autistic individuals and their families in low- and middle-income countries warrants a place in this special issue. While a giant in the professional arena, her large impact on science is minor compared to the compassion, kindness, and love she brought to her family, friends, and her professional communities at Johns Hopkins, across institutions, her native Taiwan, and the areas in which she conducted her research. Dr Lee was immensely humble and intensely focused on harnessing epidemiology to positively impact the lives of people with autism and developmental disabilities. Her humility and professional dedication was coupled with a desire to keep her own challenges and triumphs private including her courageous efforts to stave off cancer while accomplishing so much in support of others.

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Biological Psychiatry Special Issue – Tribute to Ron Duman How stress shapes neuroimmune function: implications for the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders

Biological Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.11.007 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ja Wook Koo ◽

Eric S. Wohleb

Keyword(s):

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Biological Psychiatry ◽

Special Issue

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The Challenging Heterogeneity of Autism: Editorial for Brain Sciences Special Issue “Advances in Autism Research”

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10120948 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 948

Author(s):

Antonio Narzisi

Keyword(s):

Guest Editor ◽

Personal Experience ◽

Special Issue ◽

University Of Washington ◽

Autism Research ◽

Brain Sciences ◽

The University

My personal experience as Guest Editor of the Special Issue (SI) entitled “Advances in Autism Research” began with a nice correspondence with Andrew Meltzoff, from the University of Washington, Seattle (WA, USA), which, in hindsight, I consider as a good omen for the success of this Special Issue: “Dear Antonio… [...]

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New modes of understanding and acting on human difference in autism research, advocacy and care: Introduction to a Special Issue of BioSocieties

BioSocieties ◽

10.1057/biosoc.2014.19 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 233-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gil Eyal ◽

Des Fitzgerald ◽

Eva Gillis-Buck ◽

Brendan Hart ◽

Martine D Lappé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Special Issue ◽

Autism Research ◽

Human Difference

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What is taken for granted in autism research?

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x1800225x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michele Ilana Friedner

Keyword(s):

Research Methodologies ◽

Communicative Practices ◽

Autism Research ◽

Autistic People ◽

The Social ◽

New Research

Abstract This commentary focuses on three points: the need to consider semiotic ideologies of both researchers and autistic people, questions of commensurability, and problems with “the social” as an analytical concept. It ends with a call for new research methodologies that are not deficit-based and that consider a broad range of linguistic and non-linguistic communicative practices.

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Applying Item Response Theory Modeling to Identify Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00284 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 1916-1932 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haiying Yuan ◽

Christine Dollaghan

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Item Response ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Social Communication ◽

National Database ◽

Communication Disorder ◽

Social Communication Questionnaire ◽

Autism Research ◽

The Social ◽

Pragmatic Communication

Purpose No diagnostic tools exist for identifying social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD), a new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition category for individuals with social communication deficits but not the repetitive, restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) that would qualify them for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We explored the value of items from a widely used screening measure of ASD for distinguishing SPCD from typical controls (TC; Aim 1) and from ASD (Aim 2). Method We applied item response theory (IRT) modeling to Social Communication Questionnaire–Lifetime ( Rutter, Bailey, & Lord, 2003 ) records available in the National Database for Autism Research. We defined records from putative SPCD ( n = 54), ASD ( n = 278), and TC ( n = 274) groups retrospectively, based on National Database for Autism Research classifications and Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised responses. After assessing model assumptions, estimating model parameters, and measuring model fit, we identified items in the social communication and RRBI domains that were maximally informative in differentiating the groups. Results IRT modeling identified a set of seven social communication items that distinguished SPCD from TC with sensitivity and specificity > 80%. A set of five RRBI items was less successful in distinguishing SPCD from ASD (sensitivity and specificity < 70%). Conclusion The IRT modeling approach and the Social Communication Questionnaire–Lifetime item sets it identified may be useful in efforts to construct screening and diagnostic measures for SPCD.

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