scholarly journals Clinical correlates of sluggish cognitive tempo in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1354-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amie Duncan ◽  
Leanne Tamm ◽  
Allison M Birnschein ◽  
Stephen P Becker
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Autism Symptomatology ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Cognitive Tempo

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder frequently experience social communication difficulties, executive functioning deficits, and anxiety and depressive symptoms, which are similar to the symptoms and correlates of sluggish cognitive tempo. Although sluggish cognitive tempo is related to, but distinct from, the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder that commonly co-occur with autism spectrum disorder, few studies have examined sluggish cognitive tempo in autism spectrum disorder. We examined whether sluggish cognitive tempo and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were differentially associated with autism symptomatology, daily life executive functioning, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in 51 adolescents (ages 13–18 years) with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability. Regression analyses controlling for age and IQ showed that sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms, but not attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, were associated with increased autism symptomatology and internalizing symptoms. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, but not sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms, were associated with increased externalizing behaviors and behavior regulation deficits. Both sluggish cognitive tempo and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were independently associated with increased metacognitive deficits. This study provides preliminary evidence that sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms are elevated in autism spectrum disorder and associated with key clinical correlates, with implications for the assessment and treatment in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

scholarly journals Sluggish cognitive tempo: An examination of clinical correlates for adults with autism

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1373-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis M Brewe ◽  
Grace Lee Simmons ◽  
Nicole N Capriola-Hall ◽  
Susan W White
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Tempo

Adults with autism spectrum disorder often experience co-occurring mental health problems such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, as well as impairments in executive function. Sluggish cognitive tempo, a cluster of behaviors including slow processing, daydreaming, and mental fogginess, has been shown to be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder. This study was designed to assess sluggish cognitive tempo in young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we sought to establish a preliminary estimate of clinically significant sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms and to better understand its phenomenology and associations with executive function and psychiatric symptoms in the context of autism spectrum disorder. Young adults with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 57; age 16–25 years; 84.2% male) completed a laboratory-based executive function task, and parents and participants completed measures of the participants’ sluggish cognitive tempo, attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Nearly one-third of the sample exhibited clinically impairing levels of sluggish cognitive tempo. Although sluggish cognitive tempo and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder symptoms were significantly correlated, findings suggest the constructs are distinct. Results also suggest that increased sluggish cognitive tempo is related to executive function impairment and depression, but not anxiety symptoms. Considerations for assessment and long-term impacts of sluggish cognitive tempo for adults with autism spectrum disorder are discussed. Lay abstract Adults with autism spectrum disorder often experience a range of co-occurring mental health problems such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, as well as difficulties with executive function. Sluggish cognitive tempo, a cluster of behaviors including slow processing, daydreaming, and mental fogginess, has been shown to be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, and limited research has suggested that individuals with autism spectrum disorder may experience sluggish cognitive tempo. We examined co-occurring mental health problems and executive function in 57 young adults with autism spectrum disorder, aged 16–25 years to better understand sluggish cognitive tempo in autism spectrum disorder. Parents of the young adults answered questions about their children’s sluggish cognitive tempo, attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and the young adults completed tests of their executive function. Results demonstrated that nearly one-third of the sample exhibited clinically impairing levels of sluggish cognitive tempo. Although sluggish cognitive tempo and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder symptoms were related, our findings suggest they are not the same constructs. Increased sluggish cognitive tempo is related to more difficulties with executive function and increased depression, but not anxiety symptoms. Results demonstrate that sluggish cognitive tempo may pose heightened difficulties for adults with autism spectrum disorder, making it an important construct to continue studying. Considerations for assessment and long-term impacts of sluggish cognitive tempo for adults with autism spectrum disorder are discussed.

Characteristics of psychiatric emergency department use among privately insured adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 566-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luther G Kalb ◽  
Elizabeth A Stuart ◽  
Roma A Vasa
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Emergency Department Visit ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Adolescents With Autism

This study examined differences in the rates of psychiatric-related emergency department visits among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and adolescents without autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Additional outcomes included emergency department recidivism, probability of psychiatric hospitalization after the emergency department visit, and receipt of outpatient mental health services before and after the emergency department visit. Data came from privately insured adolescents, aged 12–17 years, with autism spectrum disorder (N = 46,323), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (N = 408,066), and neither diagnosis (N = 2,330,332), enrolled in the 2010–2013 MarketScan Commercial Claims Database. Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder had an increased rate of psychiatric emergency department visits compared to adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (IRR = 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.9, 2.1) and adolescents with neither diagnosis (IRR = 9.9, 95% confidence interval: 9.4, 10.4). Compared to the other groups, adolescents with autism spectrum disorder also had an increased probability of emergency department recidivism, psychiatric hospitalization after the emergency department visit, and receipt of outpatient care before and after the visit (all p < 0.001). Further research is required to understand whether these findings extend to youth with other neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those who are publicly insured.

scholarly journals Social Anxiety in Victimization and Perpetration of Cyberbullying and Traditional Bullying in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5728
Author(s):  
Tai-Ling Liu ◽  
Ray C. Hsiao ◽  
Wen-Jiun Chou ◽  
Cheng-Fang Yen
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Traditional Bullying ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying are prevalent among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aims of this study were to examine the role of social anxiety in victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying in adolescents with ASD and ADHD in Taiwan. A total of 219 adolescents with ASD and 287 adolescents with ADHD aged 11–18 years and their caregivers were recruited from the child psychiatry outpatient clinics into this study. The associations of social anxiety with victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying were examined using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that after the effects of sex, age, and autistic social impairment were controlled, social anxiety increased the risk of being a victim of cyberbullying (Odds Ratios (OR) = 1.048; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.013–1.084), a victim of traditional bullying (OR = 1.066; 95% CI: 1.036–1.097), and a perpetrator of traditional bullying (OR = 1.061; 95% CI: 1.027–1.096) in adolescents with ASD. After the effects of sex, age, and ADHD symptoms were controlled for, social anxiety increased the risk of being a victim of traditional bullying in adolescents with ADHD (OR = 1.067; 95% CI: 1.039–1.096). Social anxiety was significantly associated with several forms of bullying involvement in adolescents with ASD and ADHD and warrants being considered into prevention and intervention programs for bullying involvement.

scholarly journals Callous–Unemotional Traits among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or Typical Development: Differences Between Adolescents’ and Parents’ Views

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3972
Author(s):  
Chen-Lin Chang ◽  
Tai-Ling Liu ◽  
Ray C. Hsiao ◽  
Pinchen Yang ◽  
Yi-Lung Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Cu Traits ◽  
Callous Unemotional ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Unemotional Traits

This study examined parent–adolescent agreement on the callous, uncaring, and unemotional dimensions of callous–unemotional (CU) traits and the differences in adolescent-reported and parent-reported CU traits among 126 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 207 adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 203 typically developing (TD) adolescents. Adolescent-reported and parent-reported CU traits on the three dimensions of the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits were obtained. The strength of CU traits and the differences between adolescent-reported and parent-reported traits were compared among the three groups using analysis of covariance. Parent–adolescent agreement was examined using intraclass correlation. The results reveal that both adolescent-reported and parent-reported callousness and uncaring traits in the ASD and ADHD groups were significantly stronger than those in the TD group. Parent–adolescent agreement on the uncaring trait was fair across the three groups, whereas that on callousness was poor across all three groups. Parent–adolescent agreement on unemotionality was fair in the TD group but poor in the ADHD and ASD groups. ASD and ADHD groups had significantly greater differences in scores reported by parents and adolescents on the callousness trait than the TD group. The parent–adolescent score differences in the uncaring trait were also larger in the ASD group than in the TD group. Thus, these results support the application of a multi-informant approach in CU trait assessment, especially for adolescents with ASD or ADHD.

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