Alix Dixon presents a recent systematic review on the effectiveness of CBT for autism spectrum disorders and comorbid anxiety or depression.
[read the full story...]CBT for Autism Spectrum Disorders and comorbid mental illness
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Trends in antipsychotic prescribing in autism
Angela Hassiotis and James Dove summarise a recent meta-analysis of antipsychotic prescribing and use trends in US youth with autism spectrum disorder and/or learning disabilities.
[read the full story...]Psychiatric disorders: what’s the significance of non-random mating?
Marcus Munafo considers the implications of a recent Swedish population study, which explores patterns of non-random mating within and across 11 major psychiatric disorders.
[read the full story...]Pivotal response treatment is promising for children with autism
Rosalyn Nelson presents the findings of a small RCT of Pivotal Response Treatment groups for parents of children with autism, which has promising results in terms of encouraging children to communicate.
[read the full story...]Risk factors for self-injurious behaviour in adolescents with ASD
Self-injurious behaviour can have significant consequences for individuals, their families and carers.
Here, Rachel Allen looks at a study, which focused in particular on adolescents, and considered that the severity of autism symptoms were related to the incidence of self injurious behaviour during adolescence.
[read the full story...]Evaluating the quality of information on autism-related websites: ensuring informed decision making
The internet is now a major source of information and advice and a significant proportion of parents who have just received a diagnosis of autism for their child will visit websites looking for information. But how far is the quality of that information assured?
Here, Emma Langley looks at an evaluation of autism related website which set out to answer that question.
[read the full story...]Forensic learning disabilities in-patient services – were there differences in clinical, forensic and treatment outcomes if patients also had autism?
There continues to be debate about the appropriate use of in-patient services for people with learning disabilities and we need to learn as much as possible about routes in, treatment options within and pathways out.
In her debut blog, Anne Marie Scott looks at a paper, which reports on outcomes in relation to people who were inpatients in a forensic unit, In particular the researchers asked if being on the autism spectrum impacted on these outcomes.
[read the full story...]Can we model the development and maintenance of self-injury in children with developmental delay?
Self-injurious behaviour can have a severe impact on the quality of life of some children with developmental delay.
Here, Alix Dixon looks at a review of an extensive body of literature around potential causal mechanisms and aggravating characteristics which aims to develop a clearer working model to inform practice.
[read the full story...]Parents’ experience of transition: support and struggle
Hannah Morgan assesses a study on parents’ experience of support for transition to adulthood for children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and finds that although they want to support their children, they themselves are not always supported by services.
[read the full story...]Does opioid antagonist medication improve the core features of autism spectrum conditions in children?
Emma Langley looks at a systematic review of the effectiveness of the use of opioid antagonist medication in attenuating core symptoms of autism spectrum conditions in children
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