scholarly journals Functional EEG connectivity in infants associates with later restricted and repetitive behaviours in autism; a replication study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne Haartsen ◽  
◽  
Emily J. H. Jones ◽  
Elena V. Orekhova ◽  
Tony Charman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Replication Study ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Eeg Connectivity ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviours

scholarly journals Exploring the impact of adolescent cognitive inflexibility on emotional and behavioural problems experienced by autistic adults

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110461
Author(s):  
Matthew J Hollocks ◽  
Tony Charman ◽  
Gillian Baird ◽  
Catherine Lord ◽  
Andrew Pickles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intelligence Quotient ◽  
Behavioural Problems ◽  
Emotional And Behavioural Problems ◽  
Verbal Intelligence ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Verbal Intelligence Quotient ◽  
Cognitive Inflexibility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviours

Autistic young people experience high levels of co-occurring mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties, across their lifespan. Understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms which underlie these difficulties is vital in developing personalised supports and interventions. Cognitive inflexibility is one candidate mechanism which is associated with co-occurring mental health comorbidities but is also associated with other features of autism such as restricted and repetitive behaviours. This study investigates the distinct longitudinal association between cognitive inflexibility, measured using objective neuropsychological measures and emotional and behavioural problems across adolescence and early adulthood. Eighty-one autistic people from a population-based longitudinal study were assessed at 16 and 23 years on measures of emotional and behavioural problems, with cognitive inflexibility, restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient measured at 16 years. We used structural equation modelling to investigate the relationship between cognitive inflexibility and emotional and behavioural symptoms at both timepoints while accounting for the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient. Our results indicate an effect of cognitive inflexibility on increased behavioural problems at 16 years and emotional problems across timepoints, which is distinct from restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient. Exploratory mediation analyses suggest that cognitive inflexibility may be one mechanism through which emotional difficulties are maintained longitudinally. Lay abstract Autistic people experience high levels of co-occurring mental health difficulties. To develop more effective treatments, a greater understanding of the thinking processes that may lead to these difficulties is needed. Cognitive inflexibility, defined as a rigid pattern of thoughts and subsequently behaviours, is one possible thinking trait which has previously been associated with both co-occurring mental health difficulties but also other features of autism such as restricted and repetitive behaviours. Restricted and repetitive behaviours include repetitive movements, ritualistic behaviours, and/or highly focused interests. This study investigates the relationship between, cognitive inflexibility, measured using neuropsychological tasks, and emotional and behavioural problems across adolescence and early adulthood. Eighty-one autistic people who were recruited to be representative of the wider autism population were assessed at 16 and 23 years on measures of emotional and behavioural problems, with cognitive inflexibility, restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence measured at 16 years. We used statistical modelling to investigate the relationship between cognitive inflexibility and emotional and behavioural symptoms at both timepoints while accounting for the possible relationship with restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient. Our results suggest that cognitive inflexibility may be an important factor associated with emotional difficulties across adolescence and early adulthood. This suggests that developing intervention approaches targeting cognitive inflexibility may be an important step in improving the mental health of those with autism.

scholarly journals Dissecting the phenotypic heterogeneity in sensory features in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a factor mixture modelling approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Tillmann ◽  
Mirko Uljarevic ◽  
Daisy Crawley ◽  
Guillaume Dumas ◽  
Eva Loth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Mixture Modelling ◽  
Sensory Features ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviours

Abstract Background Heterogeneity in the phenotypic presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is apparent in the profile and the severity of sensory symptoms. Here we applied Factor Mixture Modelling (FMM) to test a multidimensional factor model of sensory processing in ASD. We aimed to identify homogeneous sensory subgroups in ASD that differ intrinsically in their severity along continuous factor scores. We also investigated sensory subgroups in relation to clinical variables: sex, age, IQ, social communication symptoms, restricted and repetitive behaviours, adaptive functioning and symptoms of anxiety and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Methods 332 children and adults with ASD between the ages of 6 and 30 years with IQs varying between 40 and 148 were included. First, three different confirmatory factor models were fit to the 38 items of the Short Sensory Profile. Then, latent class models (with two-to-five subgroups) were evaluated. The best performing factor model, the 7-factor structure, was subsequently used in two FMMs that varied in the number of subgroups: a two-subgroup, seven-factor model and a three-subgroup, seven-factor model. Results The ‘three-subgroup/seven-factor’ FMM was superior to all other models based on different fit criteria. Identified subgroups differed in sensory severity from severe, moderate to low. Accounting for the potential confounding effects of age and IQ, participants in these sensory subgroups had different levels of social-communicative symptoms, restricted and repetitive behaviours, adaptive functioning skills and symptoms of inattention and anxiety. Limitations Results were derived using a single parent-report measure of sensory symptoms, the SSP, which has some notable construct limitations that constrain the generalisability of findings. Conclusion Sensory features can be best described by three homogeneous sensory subgroups that differ in sensory severity gradients along seven continuous factor scores. Identified sensory subgroups were further differentiated by the severity of core and co-occurring symptoms, and level of adaptive functioning, providing novel evidence on the associated clinical correlates of sensory subgroups. These sensory subgroups provide a platform to further interrogate the neurobiological and genetic correlates of altered sensory processing in ASD.

scholarly journals Dissecting the phenotypic heterogeneity in sensory features in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a factor mixture modelling approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Tillmann ◽  
Mirko Uljarevic ◽  
Daisy Crawley ◽  
Guillaume Dumas ◽  
Eva Loth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Mixture Modelling ◽  
Sensory Features ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviours

Abstract Background: Heterogeneity in the phenotypic presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is apparent in the profile and the severity of sensory features. Here we applied Factor Mixture Modelling (FMM) to test a multidimensional factor model of sensory processing in ASD. We aimed to identify homogeneous sensory subgroups in ASD that differ intrinsically in their severity along continuous factor scores. We also investigated sensory subgroups in relation to clinical variables: sex, age, IQ, social communication symptoms, restricted and repetitive behaviours, adaptive functioning and symptoms of anxiety and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Methods: 332 children and adults with ASD between the ages of 6 and 30 years with IQs varying between 40 and 148 were included. First, three different confirmatory factor models were fit to the 38 items of the Short Sensory Profile (SSP). Then, latent class models (with two-to-six subgroups) were evaluated. The best performing factor model, the 7-factor structure, was subsequently used in two FMMs that varied in the number of subgroups: a two-subgroup, seven-factor model and a three-subgroup, seven-factor model.Results: The ‘three-subgroup/seven-factor’ FMM was superior to all other models based on different fit criteria. Identified subgroups differed in sensory severity from severe, moderate to low. Accounting for the potential confounding effects of age and IQ, participants in these sensory subgroups had different levels of social-communicative symptoms, restricted and repetitive behaviours, adaptive functioning skills and symptoms of inattention and anxiety.Limitations: Results were derived using a single parent-report measure of sensory features, the SSP, which limits the generalisability of findings.Conclusion: Sensory features can be best described by three homogeneous sensory subgroups that differ in sensory severity gradients along seven continuous factor scores. Identified sensory subgroups were further differentiated by the severity of core and co-occurring symptoms, and level of adaptive functioning, providing novel evidence on the associated clinical correlates of sensory subgroups. These sensory subgroups provide a platform to further interrogate the neurobiological and genetic correlates of altered sensory processing in ASD.

scholarly journals The Adult Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire-2 (RBQ-2A): A Self-Report Measure of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 3680-3692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Barrett ◽  
Mirko Uljarević ◽  
Emma K. Baker ◽  
Amanda L. Richdale ◽  
Catherine R. G. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Report ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Report Measure ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviours

scholarly journals What aspects of autism predispose to talent?

2009 ◽  
Vol 364 (1522) ◽  
pp. 1369-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Happé ◽  
Pedro Vital
Keyword(s):  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Processing Bias ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Enhanced Perceptual Functioning ◽  
Restricted And Repetitive Behaviours

In this paper, we explore the question, why are striking special skills so much more common in autism spectrum conditions (ASC) than in other groups? Current cognitive accounts of ASC are briefly reviewed in relation to special skills. Difficulties in ‘theory of mind’ may contribute to originality in ASC, since individuals who do not automatically ‘read other minds’ may be better able to think outside prevailing fashions and popular theories. However, originality alone does not confer talent. Executive dysfunction has been suggested as the ‘releasing’ mechanism for special skills in ASC, but other groups with executive difficulties do not show raised incidence of talents. Detail-focused processing bias (‘weak coherence’, ‘enhanced perceptual functioning’) appears to be the most promising predisposing characteristic, or ‘starting engine’, for talent development. In support of this notion, we summarize data from a population-based twin study in which parents reported on their 8-year-olds' talents and their ASC-like traits. Across the whole sample, ASC-like traits, and specifically ‘restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests’ related to detail focus, were more pronounced in children reported to have talents outstripping older children. We suggest that detail-focused cognitive style predisposes to talent in savant domains in, and beyond, autism spectrum disorders.

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