scholarly journals Does Hydrotherapy Impact Behaviours Related to Mental Health and Well-Being for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Randomised Crossover-Controlled Pilot Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 558
Author(s):  
Whitney Mills ◽  
Nicholas Kondakis ◽  
Robin Orr ◽  
Michael Warburton ◽  
Nikki Milne
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Large Effect Size ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Group 1

Background: Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are less physically active than typically developing children due to reduced socialisation and delayed gross-motor skills, negatively impacting social, emotional and physical well-being. This study aimed to determine whether hydrotherapy influences behaviours which impact mental health and well-being in children with ASD. Methods: A within-subjects, randomised crossover-controlled pilot trial was used over 8 weeks. Children aged 6–12 years and diagnosed with ASD (n = 8) were randomly allocated to Group 1 (n = 4) or Group 2 (n = 4). All children participated in hydrotherapy intervention from either weeks 1 to 4 or weeks 5 to 8. The Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) measured behaviour changes impacting mental health and well-being, administered at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Results: No observable differences were found in CBCL subscales between Group 1 or 2 at baseline (week 0). Paired-samples t-tests revealed significant improvements post-intervention: Anxious/Depressed subdomain (p = 0.02) and the Internalising Problems Domain Summary (p = 0.026), with large effect size (d = 1.03 and d = 1.06 respectively). Thought Problems (p = 0.03) and Attention Problems (p = 0.01) both significantly improved post-intervention. The Total Problems score significantly improved post-intervention (p = 0.018) with a large effect size (d = 1.04). Conclusion: Hydrotherapy may enhance behaviours impacting mental health and well-being of children with ASD and could be considered a beneficial therapy option.

scholarly journals Predictors of mental health and well-being in employed adults with autism spectrum disorder at 12-month follow-up

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren Hedley ◽  
Mirko Uljarević ◽  
Simon M. Bury ◽  
Cheryl Dissanayake
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Health And Well Being

scholarly journals Renaming schizophrenia: 5 × 5

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (03) ◽  
pp. 254-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinan Guloksuz ◽  
Jim van Os
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Social ◽  
Technical Features ◽  
In The Beginning

AbstractThere had been a long way to go before we felt comfortable about even discussing the issues revolving around the concept of ‘schizophrenia’, let alone reckoning on mere semantic revision. In this editorial, we aim to extend our discussion on the reasons behind the slow death of the concept of ‘schizophrenia’ and the benefits of changing the name and embracing a spectrum approach with an umbrella psychosis spectrum disorder (PSD) category (similar to autism spectrum disorder) that goes further than a mere semantic revision. We attempted to cover the topic of the renaming by providing five most pertinent points categorised under five domains: reasons, signals, challenges, promises and steps for the change. Admittedly, even a modest revision, such as classifying all psychotic disorder categories under an umbrella category of PSD, and abolishing the term schizophrenia requires careful deliberation and some effort in the beginning, but the revision is well worth the effort considering the benefits in the long run. Renaming a particular form of mental suffering should be accompanied by a broader debate of the entire diagnosis-evidence-based-practice (EBP)-symptom-reduction model as the normative factor driving the content and organisation of mental health services that may be detached from patients’ needs and reality, overlooks the trans-syndromal structure of mental difficulties, appraises the significance of the technical features over the relational and ritual components of care, and underestimates the lack of EBP group-to-individual generalisability. Individuals may make great strides in attaining well-being by accommodating to living with mental vulnerabilities through building resilience in the social and existential domains. Changing the name and the concept of ‘schizophrenia’, which goes beyond a mere semantic revision, may become the first step that allows catalysation of the process of modernising psychiatric science and services worldwide.

scholarly journals Implementing a Mental Health Care Program and Home-Based Training for Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Urban Population in Bangladesh: Protocol for a Feasibility Assessment Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliya Naheed ◽  
Kamrun Nahar Koly ◽  
Helal Uddin Ahmed ◽  
Shaheen Akhter ◽  
MM Jalal Uddin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Dsm Iv

BACKGROUND Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported a higher level of depression than mothers of children with other neurodevelopmental disorders in both developed and developing countries. Mothers are the lifetime caregivers of children with ASD, and a high burden of depression can negatively impact their ability to provide care. However, access to mental health services in primary care is limited, given the scarcity of qualified providers in Bangladesh. OBJECTIVE We aim to pilot the feasibility of integrating mental health services for the mothers of children with ASD attending schools offering ASD care and improve skills of mothers for child care through a home-based training program. METHODS The study will be conducted in two selected schools in Dhaka in Bangladesh that have been offering services for ASD for more than 10 years. A female psychologist will be deployed at the schools to offer nonpharmacological services for all mothers having a depressive episode. Referral for pharmacological treatment will be made at the discretion of supervising psychiatrists. An ASD special educator will provide training to the mothers for enhancing their child care skills at home on a monthly basis. The proposed intervention package will be implemented over a period of 4-6 months, and the feasibility of the intervention will be assessed through a pre- and postintervention evaluation by obtaining the perspectives of various stakeholders involved in the implementation of mental health services and maternal training. The primary outcome will include assessment of acceptability, adaptability, demand, practicality, implementation, and integration of the package intervention in the school settings. The secondary outcomes will include assessment of: 1) the prevalence of maternal depression; 2) children’s behavioral, social, and communication skills; and 3) the intervention participation costs incurred by institutions and families. RESULTS Between February and March 2017, 188 mothers of children with ASD were screened for depression following a written informed consent. Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (SCID-1) was administered to 66 mothers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 mothers and 8 various stakeholders. Between January-June 2017, the team finalized a draft psychosocial counseling module and a maternal training module. Between April-May 2017, mental health services were provided by psychologists to 41 mothers who attended the counseling centers at each school. Three special educators have been trained in June 2017 to initiate training of the participating mothers. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study of a mental health intervention for mothers of children with ASD to reduce their burden of depression and improve the outcomes of their children. The findings will inform the provision of services for children with ASD and their mothers in Bangladesh and similar settings.

Characteristics and Experiences of Parents of Children with Learning and Attention Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Mixed Methods Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 106648072110523
Author(s):  
Emma Chad-Friedman ◽  
Karen A. Kuhlthau ◽  
Rachel A. Millstein ◽  
Giselle K. Perez ◽  
Christina M. Luberto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
And Coping

Parents of children with learning and attention disorders (LAD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience chronic parenting stress due to the challenges in raising a child with special needs. We used a mixed methods design to examine characteristics and experiences of stress and coping among parents of children with LAD and ASD. We conducted 20 semi-structured focus group interviews with parents of children with LAD ( n = 11) and ASD ( n = 9) and administered a battery of self-report measures of stress and coping to parents of LAD ( n = 53) and ASD ( n = 51) enrolled in a pilot trial. Qualitative findings showed that parents of children with LAD and ASD largely experienced similar sources of stress, but with different intensities due to their children's different difficulties. Quantitative findings reflected high levels of distress among parents of children with LAD and ASD, with parents of children with ASD demonstrating higher distress and poorer overall sleep quality. Stressors experienced by parents of children with ASD arose from more overt challenges associated with having a child with more visible challenges. Parents of children with LAD experienced more subtle challenges of having a child who is less overtly impaired. Findings will aid in the development of targeted stress management interventions.

scholarly journals Grief Experiences in Family Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Bravo-Benítez ◽  
María Nieves Pérez-Marfil ◽  
Belén Román-Alegre ◽  
Francisco Cruz-Quintana
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Caregiver Role ◽  
The Impact

The main objective of this study was to analyse the experience of grief and feelings of loss in family caregivers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as the perceived overload from taking on the primary caregiver role. Twenty family caregivers of children with ASD participated. The family members were assessed using an ad-hoc semi-structured interview that addressed the families’ reactions to the diagnosis, implications for daily functioning, and concerns for the immediate and long-term future of their relatives with ASD. The results indicate that family caregivers of children with ASD endure intense and continuous sorrow and grief due to the impact that having and caring for a child with these characteristics has on all aspects of their lives. These data highlight the importance of creating support and intervention programmes and services focused on the feelings and manifestations of ambiguous grief that occur in these family members, in order to improve their well-being and quality of life and reduce caregiver role overload.

scholarly journals Nature as a Healer for Autistic Children

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Hadeer Barakat ◽  
Ali Foaad Bakr ◽  
Zeyad El-sayad
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Sensory Integration ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Scientific Conference ◽  
Children With Asd

According to estimates from the Center for Disease Control (CDC's) in 2008 and the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network in 2010, about 1 in 88 children had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2008 and about 1 in 68 children had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in (2010). The eighth Scientific Conference for Autism held by the College of Education in conjunction with the Egyptian Society for Hydration Capacities of Children with Special Needs revealed that 1 out of every 80 children in Egypt are suffering from autism and this number in Egypt was expected to rise from 2.3 million in 2001 to 2.9 million in 2017. The reason for many of autistic children’s symptoms is sensory integration; it is the power to understand, organize, and feel sensory data from the environment and body. The issues surrounding sensory integration are presented in hyposensitive and hypersensitive reactions by children with autism to the vestibular, proprioception, tactile, audio, visual, and olfactory senses. A great deal of research has been conducted on gardens and their effect on health outcomes and how a garden may provide benefit: 1. Relief from physical symptoms or awareness of those symptoms. 2. Stress reduction. 3. Improvement in overall sense of well-being. The aim of this paper is to establish a group of guidelines for designing a therapeutic garden for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to treat the sensory integration problems of children with ASD by designing a sensory garden which should focus on therapeutic interference. By using the elements and principles of design, the guidelines for this garden are focused on producing calming effects for hyper reactive children with ASD and stimulating effects for hypo reactions.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Anxiety and Stress in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Review of Literature

2020 ◽  
pp. 121-127
Author(s):  
Katelynn Jolly ◽  
Professor Tonya Huber
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Health State ◽  
Raising Children ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Information Research

Objective: Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are likely to develop and experience stress and anxiety due to the overwhelming amount of new information, research on their child’s needs, and coping with everyday hardships. Method: This systematic review analyzed seven recent research articles related to the anxiety and stress in mothers raising children with ASD. Studies were limited to a focus on maternal mental health experiences raising a child with ASD. Findings: All studies examined show a sample of mothers that have anxiety while raising children with ASD. Researchers employed different methodologies in measuring these mothers’ anxiety at either one or two points in time. The strengths and weaknesses of each study were reviewed. Some studies even reported a direct effect concerning the way mothers interact with others and their children as a result of their mental health state. Limitations in most of the studies reviewed showed a smaller sample size than originally intended. Conclusion: While there are many studies that focus on children with ASD, there is a lack of research on the mental health state of their parents, specifically mothers. These parents take on the role of being a provider, advocate, and channel between their children and a world that is rarely accessible to them. Research in this area can greatly benefit new mothers experiencing this, and all parents that may have an unhealthy mental state when dealing with the responsibility and work it takes raising a child with a disability.

scholarly journals Exploring a Role for Parental Mental Health in Perception and Reports of Pain on Behalf of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Luke P. Grosvenor ◽  
Daniel G. Whitney ◽  
Heather E. Volk ◽  
M. Daniele Fallin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Parent Mental Health ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Children With Asd

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher prevalence of pain compared to those without ASD. Pain is a leading cause of morbidity and disability worldwide and may contribute to adverse health outcomes in people with ASD, thus warranting further research on this special population. The present study used data from 1,423 children with ASD and 46,023 children without ASD and their mothers from the combined 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. Mothers reported child pain and ASD status and their own mental health status. Mothers reporting a status of “Fair or Poor” were considered as having maternal mental health conditions (MMHCs) for the purposes of this study. Children with and without ASD who had mothers with MMHCs had higher odds of pain compared to children with mothers without MMHCs. These increased odds did not attenuate as a result of controlling for co-occurring neurological conditions, which have been associated with increased pain in children with ASD. Thus, parent mental health may alter perception and/or reports of pain on behalf of children with and without ASD. Future research should include more detailed assessments of parent mental health and clinical assessments of children in order to explore the role of parent mental health in the experiences of pain and other symptoms present in children with ASD.

scholarly journals Leisure and Quality of Life among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Review Based Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 176-188
Author(s):  
Menezes Ida Sylvia ◽  
Laveena D’Mello
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Quality Life

Purpose: Owing to the time-consuming job of caring for their child's family and friends, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder risk losing family relationships. The main aim was to identify and intervene in the quality of life of parents, the interventions offered to parents as primary caregivers of children with ASD. To explore parents' perspectives on beneficent for children with autism in connection with formative years, resources, and to confront the consequences of upraising a child with ASD. Design/Methodology/Approach: Systematic literature, resulting in the publication of 27 studies that focused on the living standards of parents of children with ASD. Systematic literature scrutiny was performed using the search words "autism spectrum disorder," ‘primary caregiver/ parents/ mother” and "Quality of life" in the electronic databases Research gate, Academia, Google Scholar, and PsycInfo. Findings/Result: QOL autism-specific assessment tools were limited and hence, most studies have employed a general measure tool to assess the influence of the diagnosed disorder on the physical and psychological well-being of parents/caregivers. Originality/Value: The sequel of this study advocate that to date, the appraisal of quality life in parents of children with ASD into clinical practice has been rationalized by the shortage of autism-specific scales. As generically do not catch all pertinent aspects of living with ASD raising the need for immediate measures. Implementing parental interventions in parallel with the child’s interventions may raise QOL. Paper Type: Systematic literature review.

Designing Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions for Community Implementation

2020 ◽  
pp. 407-421
Author(s):  
Robin L. Gabriels ◽  
Julia Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Implementation Science ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Challenging Behaviors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Impact

There are well-documented gaps between evidence-based interventions (EBIs) developed and tested in controlled research settings and those delivered in routine, community-based care. The field of implementation science has developed in response to identified gaps to study methods to promote the uptake and sustainment of EBIs in community care. Community mental health (MH) services play an important role in caring for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the lifespan who have co-occurring psychiatric conditions. This chapter summarizes over a decade of community-engaged research aimed to (a) characterize MH services for children with ASD, including the training needs of therapists and clinical needs of children with ASD receiving care; (b) develop the AIM HI (An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD) intervention, a package of well-established, evidence-based behavioral strategies designed to reduce challenging behaviors in children served in MH service settings; (c) test the impact of training therapists to deliver AIM HI on child outcomes; (d) identify potential influences on implementation; and (e) test the impact of different implementation strategies to enhance therapist delivery of AIM HI. The chapter includes directions for future research including applying the AIM HI development model to older individuals with ASD and other community service systems and integrating implementation science approaches earlier in the pipeline of research-to-practice translation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document