ASD

Question 1

What are the 5 diff. disorders under ASD?

Answer 1

• Asperge’s $
• Rett’s $
• Childhood Autism
• Pervasive Developm/ Disorder
• pervasive develop. disorder NOS

Question 2

What is common in the ASD d.os?

Answer 2

• the difficulties in SOCIAL interaction and social COMMUNICATION

Question 3

What are the CORE fts of AUTISM?

Answer 3

• impaired social interaxn
• impaired COMM.
• restricted interests
• —-in the middle (non social skills/ repetitive behaviour)

Question 4

What do autistic individuals struggle with in Language?

Answer 4

• good language
• can’t GRASP ABSTRACT conversations/concepts
• monotonous
• pedantic
• KNOWS everything about one topic

Question 5

What do they struggle with in social interaction?

Answer 5

• can’t pick up on NON-VERBAL cues
• appears self-focused; when actually trying to figure out social situation
• struggles with personal/social interaxns

Question 6

Comment about the social imagination of the Autistic individuals.

Answer 6

• diff. in thinking in abstract ways
• takes things LITERALLY
• can’t think about their future
• can;t apply skills across diff. settings (saying thank you at diff. cashcounters)

Question 7

What form of repetitive behaviours exist?

Answer 7

• repetitive MOTOR movements
• fixated interests
  (abnormal intensity of focus—-interest in a NARROW topic)
• HYPER- or HYPO-reactivity to sensory input
• ritualised behaviour

Question 8

Which gender group is predisposed? Why?

Answer 8

Males

5: 1
- -some relation to TESTOSTERONE levels —-sex hormones receptors are widely DISTRIBUTED in the brain; therefore influences neural signaling
- girls with CAH (exposed to high testosterone)—show more traits of ASD

Question 9

How heritable is ASD?

Answer 9

• 30% of siblings with BROADER autism phenotype
• 90% in MZ twins
• 30-90% heretability

Question 10

What medical conditions predisposes one to ASD?

Answer 10

• Rubella in the pregnant mother
• Tuberous Sclerosis
• Fragile X $
• Encephalitis
• Untreated Phenylketonuria

Question 11

Which parts of the brain is pathological in Autism?

Answer 11

• amygdala

- cerebellum

Question 12

What occurs as a result of increased size of the AMYGDALA?

Answer 12

• ANXIETY, social and communication skills become MORE pronounced
• in boys the amygdala is said to increase by 13-16%

Question 13

What NTs are implicated in AUTISM?

Answer 13

glutamate —neuronal dmage with disreg.
GABA
Serotonin

Question 14

How to dx Autism in children?

Answer 14

• lack interest in other children
• can’t initiate and sustain friendships
• gravitate to YOUNGER or OLDERR children
• Lang. problems (repeat words/phrases spoken to others….can’t maintain eye contact)

Question 15

DDx of AUTISM in ADULTS?

Answer 15

• SOCIAL ANXIETY d.o
• —same lack of eye contact
• –avoids social contact
• —few friendships

Question 16

What emotional co-morbidities exist with ASD?

Answer 16

• depression and anxiety (40-60%)

- eating disorders (20%)

Question 17

How must of an affect does ASD have on IQ?

Answer 17

• 70% of children have non verbal IQ <70

- 35% have non-verbal IQ <50

Question 18

When is medication prescribed for Autism?

Answer 18

• managing AGGRESSION and SELF-INJURY (Risperidone)

Question 19

How come gender has a play in the predisposition to autism?

Answer 19

• Sex hormones play a role in the organisation of BRAIN circuits during EARLY developm.
• sex hormone receptors are WIDELY distributed in the brain

Question 20

What is the extent of heretidability when born to an autistic parent? And in MZ twins?

Answer 20

35%-90%

—->90%

Question 21

Briefly outline the areas said to cause social impairment.

Answer 21

• frontal cortex incl: Orbitofrontal Cortex, Poster. parietal cortex

Question 22

Which NTs are said to be implicated in ASD?

Answer 22

• serotonin and GABA (important for Neurodevelopment)

- Glutamate

Question 23

How different does an ASD patient take in sensory input?

Answer 23

—OVERLY sensitive to NOISE (magnified, distorted), TASTE (some OVERPOWERING) , SOUND, touch (poor depth perception)

Question 24

How is SIGHT perception affected in an ASD pt?

Answer 24

• clumsiness and trouble with CATCHING or THROWING items

- difficulty getting sleep d/t sensitivity to light

Question 25

What 3 pointers are essential for the dx of ASD?

Answer 25

1. symptoms must be present EARLY on 2. symptoms CAUSE significant SOCIAL impairment, occupational impairment 3. disturbances are not better explained by other disabilities

Question 26

What are the diff. dx criterias available for ASD?

Answer 26

- assessment tool: ADOS | - screening questionnaires: DISCO, 3di

Question 27

What neurodevelopmental disorders co-exist?

Answer 27

1. ADHD 2. Dyslexia 3. Language impairment 4. OCD 5. Gilles de la Tourette 6. Dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder

Question 28

What medical disorder may co-occur with ASD?

Answer 28

- seizures z - Tuberous sclerosis - Fragile X $ - hearing and VISUAL impairments

Question 29

How to manage ASD pts non-pharmacologically?

Answer 29

- self and FAMILY psychoeducation - family and school based supports - Diet (esp. for refined sugar, food additives)

Question 30

Any pharmacological treatments for Autism?

Answer 30

- NO - rx of co-morbities - --severe autism: LD mood stabilizers

Question 31

What is a blood-based social biomarker for SOCIAL functioning?

Answer 31

OXYTOCIN