scholarly journals Emotional Rational Education Training Associated with Mindfulness for Managing Anxiety within Adolescents Affected by High-Functioning Autism: A Descriptive Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Alessandro Frolli ◽  
Maria Carla Ricci ◽  
Francesca Di Carmine ◽  
Agnese Orefice ◽  
Emilio Saviano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
Education Training

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a chronic and persistent pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) whose characteristic deficit is represented by social difficulties, semantic–pragmatic alterations and a limited, unusual and repetitive pattern of interests and behaviors. Specifically, individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) frequently exhibit associated internalizing symptoms that are not part of the diagnostic criteria but which, nonetheless, tend to impair daily functioning. In this study, we investigated how some forms of treatment could be useful in subjects with HFA who display internalizing symptoms. Theoretical background relates to standard cognitive therapy (SCT) and rational education training with mindfulness (M-ERE). Methods: In this study, we investigated how some forms of treatment could be useful in subjects with HFA and internalizing symptoms, focusing on standard cognitive therapy (SCT) and mindfulness associated with emotional rational education training (M-ERE). We selected two groups of HFA patients with significant internalizing symptoms and performed two different forms of treatment for six months: SCT and M-ERE. The aim of the study was to verify the effectiveness of an M-ERE protocol with respect to anxious and depressive symptoms in subjects with HFA. Furthermore, we wanted to compare the results obtained with this combined treatment with those obtained in HFA subjects treated with SCT. Results: Our analyses showed an improvement in the internalizing symptoms (especially those related to the anxiety dimension) of the group that followed a treatment based on mindfulness and rational emotional education for 6 months compared to the group that had instead performed a 6-month treatment based on the SCT. Conclusions: Our hypotheses were supported by the results, which highlighted the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of internalizing symptoms in adolescents with HFA, and specifically showed that an M-ERE intervention appears more effective in managing anxiety compared to treatment with SCT and appears to be equally effective in the management of depressive symptoms. Not only was the M-ERE treatment effective for the management of anxious and depressive symptoms in subjects with HFA, but the efficacy for the management of anxious symptoms was greater than the SCT treatment.

scholarly journals Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Attempts in Referred Adolescents with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and Comorbid Bipolar Disorder: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 750
Author(s):  
Gabriele Masi ◽  
Silvia Scullin ◽  
Antonio Narzisi ◽  
Pietro Muratori ◽  
Marinella Paciello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Increased Risk

Suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents are closely associated to bipolar disorders (BD). Growing evidence also suggests that high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) are at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors. Although BD and HF-ASD are frequently comorbid, no studies explored suicidality in these individuals. This exploratory study addressed this issue in a clinical group of inpatient adolescents referred to a psychiatric emergency unit. Seventeen adolescents with BD and HF-ASD and severe suicidal ideation or attempts (BD-ASD-S), were compared to 17 adolescents with BD and HF-ASD without suicidal ideation or attempts (BD-ASD-noS), and to 18 adolescents with BD and suicidal ideation or attempts without ASD (BD-noASD-S), using a structured assessment methodology. Individuals with BD-ASD-S had a higher intelligence quotient, more severe clinical impairment, more lethality in suicide attempts, more internalizing symptoms, less impulsiveness, and lower social competence. Severity of ASD traits in individuals and parents did not correlate with suicidal risk. Some dimensions of resilience were protective in terms of repulsion by life and attraction to death. Main limitations are the small sample size, the lack of a control group of typically developing adolescents. However, a better understanding of the specificities of bipolar HF-ASD individuals with suicidality may improve prevention and treatment strategies.

scholarly journals Predictive Impact of Resilience on Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Charity N. Onyishi ◽  
Maximus M. Sefotho
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Correlation Study ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Adolescents with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are highly vulnerable to depressive symptoms (DS) and a range of mental health problems compared to their typically developing peers. It is not known whether resilience can influence DS in adolescents with high functioning ASD. This study sought to find out the link between resilience and DS in a sample of adolescents with high functioning ASD in Nigeria. The study is a quantitative correlation study of in-school adolescents with high functioning ASD. 68 adolescents with high functioning ASD from 20 inclusive education schools participated in the study. Data were collected using self report versions of Child and Youth resilience Measure (CYRM-SR) and Children’s Depression Inventory second edition (CDI-2: SR). Findings showed that total resilience score is a strong negative predictor of DS in adolescents with high functioning ASD (B=-.93; β=-.77; t=-4.20; p=.000). Specifically, individual capacities subscale (B=-2.20; β=-.77;t=-8.39;p=.000), Primary caregivers resources subscale (B=-1.98; β=-.69; t=-7.49; p=.000); and Contextual factors subscale (B=-2.02; β=-.62; t=-8.38; p=.000) predicted overall depressive symptoms (Total DS score) negatively and significantly. It was concluded that DS among adolescents with high functioning ASD can be reduced through developing resilience skills among them. Parents, special Educators and all stakeholders should intensify efforts in building resilience in adolescents with high functioning ASD.

Social Communication and Structural Language of Girls With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1139-1155
Author(s):  
Jenny M. Burton ◽  
Nancy A. Creaghead ◽  
Noah Silbert ◽  
Allison Breit-Smith ◽  
Amie W. Duncan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Adaptive Behavior ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Expressive Communication ◽  
Vineland Adaptive Behavior ◽  
Structural Language

Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize social communication and structural language of school-age girls with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) compared to a matched group of girls who are typically developing (TD). Method Participants were 37 girls between 7;5 and 15;2 (years;months)—18 HF-ASD and 19 TD. Children completed the Test of Pragmatic Language–Second Edition (TOPL-2) and Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals–Fifth Edition. Parents completed the Children's Communication Checklist–2 United States Edition (CCC-2) and Receptive and Expressive Communication subdomains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales–Second Edition. Results In the area of social communication, girls with HF-ASD earned significantly lower scores and were more often classified as having an impairment on the TOPL-2 and the CCC-2. However, 28% and 33% earned average scores on the TOPL-2 and the CCC-2, respectively. In the area of structural language, no significant differences were found between groups on Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals–Fifth Edition indexes. In contrast, girls with HF-ASD earned significantly lower scores and were more often classified as having an impairment on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales–Second Edition. Sixty-one percent and 83% scored below average on the Receptive and Expressive Communication subdomains, respectively. Conclusions It has been argued that girls with HF-ASD, when compared to boys with HF-ASD, may have advantages for social communication and structural language that mask their impairments. However, when compared to girls who are TD, girls with HF-ASD demonstrated impaired social communication and structural language. Clinicians should include and carefully examine multiple sources of information when assessing girls with HF-ASD.

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