| 1. |
- Bejerot, Susanne, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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The Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS) : a self-report scale for OCD and obsessive-compulsive related disorders
- 2014
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0803-9488 .- 1502-4725. ; 68:8, s. 549-559
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The Brief Obsessive Compulsive Scale (BOCS), derived from the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the children's version (CY-BOCS), is a short self-report tool used to aid in the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is widely used throughout child, adolescent and adult psychiatry settings in Sweden but has not been validated up to date.Aim: The aim of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of the BOCS amongst a psychiatric outpatient population.Method: The BOCS consists of a 15-item Symptom Checklist including three items (hoarding, dysmorphophobia and self-harm) related to the DSM-5 category "Obsessive-compulsive related disorders", accompanied by a single six-item Severity Scale for obsessions and compulsions combined. It encompasses the revisions made in the Y-BOCS-II severity scale by including obsessive-compulsive free intervals, extent of avoidance and excluding the resistance item. 402 adult psychiatric outpatients with OCD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and other psychiatric disorders completed the BOCS.Results: Principal component factor analysis produced five subscales titled "Symmetry", "Forbidden thoughts", "Contamination", "Magical thoughts" and "Dysmorphic thoughts". The OCD group scored higher than the other diagnostic groups in all subscales (P < 0.001). Sensitivities, specificities and internal consistency for both the Symptom Checklist and the Severity Scale emerged high (Symptom Checklist: sensitivity = 85%, specificities = 62-70% Cronbach's alpha = 0.81; Severity Scale: sensitivity = 72%, specificities = 75-84%, Cronbach's alpha = 0.94).Conclusions: The BOCS has the ability to discriminate OCD from other non-OCD related psychiatric disorders. The current study provides strong support for the utility of the BOCS in the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in clinical psychiatry.
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| 2. |
- Fernell, Elisabeth, 1948, et al.
(författare)
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Autism spectrum disorder and low vitamin D at birth : a sibling control study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Molecular Autism. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2040-2392. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Insufficient vitamin D activity has attracted increasing interest as a possible underlying risk factor in disorders of the central nervous system, including autism.Methods: In this study, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) was analysed in 58 Sweden-born sibling pairs, in which one child had autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the other did not. The study group consisted of two representative samples; 47 Gothenburg sibling pairs with mixed ethnicities and 11 Stockholm sibling pairs with Somali background. 25(OH) D levels were analysed in the stored dried blood spots taken in the neonatal period for metabolic screening.Results: The collapsed group of children with ASD had significantly lower vitamin D levels (M = 24.0 nM, SD = 19.6) as compared with their siblings (M = 31.9 nM, SD = 27.7), according to a paired samples t-test (P = 0.013). The difference was-most likely-not only accounted for by a difference in season of birth between ASD and non-ASD siblings since the mean 25(OH)D levels differed with similar effect size between the sibling pairs born during winter and summer, respectively. All children with African/Middle East background, both the children with ASD and their non-ASD siblings, had vitamin D deficiency.Conclusions: The findings suggest that low prenatal vitamin D may act as a risk factor for ASD, however, there is a need for replication with larger samples. Future research should study whether or not adequate supplementation of vitamin D to pregnant women might lower the risk for ASD in the offspring.
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| 3. |
- Lugnegård, Tove, et al.
(författare)
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Asperger syndrome and schizophrenia: Overlap of self-reported autistic traits using the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ).
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nordic journal of psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-4725 .- 0803-9488. ; 69:4, s. 268-274
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In clinical practice, the differential diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (AS) versus schizophrenia can be a challenge. Some self-report instruments-such as the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ)-have been portrayed as proxies for the diagnosis of AS. However, it has not been demonstrated to what extent autistic traits-as measured by the AQ-separate AS from schizophrenia. Aim: To examine the AS-schizophrenia discriminating ability of the AQ. Method: The AQ is a 50-item self-administered questionnaire (with score range 0-50) for measuring "autistic traits" in adults. Here, it was completed by 136 individuals: 36 with schizophrenic psychosis, 51 with AS and 49 non-clinical comparison cases. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the total AQ score was performed to examine the discriminating power of the instrument. Result: Both individuals with schizophrenia and individuals with AS scored significantly higher on AQ than the non-clinical group. The mean total AQ score (± standard deviation) of the AS group (26.7 ± 8.9; range 9-44) was significantly higher than that of the schizophrenia group (22.7 ± 6.2; range 10-35) (P = 0.041). However, when using the full Likert scale for scoring, the difference did not reach significance. In the ROC analysis of total AQ scores for AS versus schizophrenia, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.65 (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Although mean AQ scores separated AS and schizophrenia at a group comparison level, significant overlap of AQ scores across the two diagnostic groups clearly reduces the discriminating power of the AQ in the separation of schizophrenia from AS.
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| 4. |
- Lugnegård, Tove, et al.
(författare)
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Personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders: what are the connections?
- 2012
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Ingår i: Comprehensive Psychiatry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0010-440X .- 1532-8384. ; 53:4, s. 333-340
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The relationship between autism spectrum disorders/pervasive developmental disorders and personality disorders is not completely clear, although both concepts imply lifelong impairment. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence of possible personality disorders in a group of young adults with Asperger syndrome. METHOD: Fifty-four young adults with a clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome were assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders to evaluate the presence of a concomitant personality disorder and completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient to measure level of autistic features. Autism spectrum diagnosis was confirmed by Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders with a collateral informant. RESULTS: Approximately half of the study group fulfilled criteria for a personality disorder, all belonging to cluster A or C. There was a significant difference across sex: men with Asperger syndrome meeting personality disorder criteria much more often than women with Asperger syndrome (65% vs 32%). Participants fulfilling criteria for a personality disorder showed more marked autistic features according to the Autism Spectrum Quotient. CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable overlap in symptoms between Asperger syndrome and certain personality disorders. Similarities and differences of the two concepts are discussed in the framework of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classification system.
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| 5. |
- Lugnegård, Tove, et al.
(författare)
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Psychiatric comorbidity in young adults with a clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Research in Developmental Disabilities. - : Elsevier BV. - 0891-4222 .- 1873-3379. ; 32:5, s. 1910-1917
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In children with autism spectrum disorders, previous studies have shown high rates of psychiatric comorbidity. To date, studies on adults have been scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate psychiatric comorbidity in young adults with Asperger syndrome. Participants were 26 men and 28 women (mean age 27 years) with a clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. IQ was measured using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition. Autism spectrum diagnoses were confirmed using the DIagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders. In our study group, 70% had experienced at least one episode of major depression, and 50% had suffered from recurrent depressive episodes. Anxiety disorders were seen in about 50%. Psychotic disorders and substance-induced disorders were uncommon. In conclusion, young adults with autism spectrum disorders are at high risk for mood and anxiety disorders. To identify these conditions and offer treatment, elevated vigilance is needed in clinical practice.
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| 6. |
- Lugnegård, Tove, et al.
(författare)
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Social cognition impairments in Asperger syndrome and schizophrenia.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Schizophrenia research. - Amsterdam : Elsevier BV. - 1573-2509 .- 0920-9964. ; 143:2-3, s. 277-284
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Social cognition impairments are well described in both autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome (AS), and in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, little is known about whether there are differences between the two groups of disorders regarding this ability. The aim of this study was to compare social cognition abilities in AS and schizophrenia. Fifty-three individuals (26 men, 27 women) with a clinical diagnosis of AS, 36 (22 men, 14 women) with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis, and 50 non-clinical controls (19 men, 31 women) participated in the study. Clinical diagnoses were confirmed either by Structured Clinical Interview on DSM-IV diagnosis or the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders. Verbal ability was assessed using the Vocabulary subtest of the WAIS-III. Two social cognition instruments were used: Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (Eyes Test) and the Animations Task. On the Eyes Test, patients with schizophrenia showed poorer results compared to non-clinical controls; however, no other group differences were seen. Both clinical groups scored significantly lower than the comparison group on the Animations Task. The AS group performed somewhat better than the schizophrenia group. Some differences were accounted for by gender effects. Implicit social cognition impairments appear to be at least as severe in schizophrenia as they are in AS. Possible gender differences have to be taken into account in future research on this topic.
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| 7. |
- Lundström, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Autism spectrum disorders and autistic like traits: similar etiology in the extreme end and the normal variation.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Archives of General Psychiatry. - Chicago, USA : American Medical Association (AMA). - 0003-990X .- 1538-3636. ; 69:1, s. 46-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CONTEXT: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been suggested to represent the extreme end of a normal distribution of autisticlike traits (ALTs). However, the evidence of this notion is inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: To study whether there are similar genetic and/or environmental etiologies behind ASDs and ALTs. DESIGN: A nationwide twin study. PARTICIPANTS: Consenting parents of all Swedish twins aged 9 and 12 years, born between July 1, 1992, and December 31, 2001 (n = 19 208), were interviewed by telephone to screen for child psychiatric conditions, including ASDs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two validated cutoffs for ASDs, 2 cutoffs encompassing the normal variation, and 1 continuous measure of ALTs were used with DeFries-Fulker extreme-end analyses and standard twin study methods. RESULTS: We discerned a strong correlation between the 4 cutoffs and the full variation of ALTs. The correlation was primarily affected by genes. We also found that the heritability for the 4 cutoffs was similar. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate an etiological similarity between ASDs and ALTs in the normal variation and, with results from previous studies, our data suggest that ASDs and ALTs are etiologically linked.
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| 8. |
- Lundström, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived child impairment and the 'autism epidemic'
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. - : Wiley. - 0021-9630 .- 1469-7610. ; 63:5, s. 591-598
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The prevalence of diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased substantially across the world. Much - or even most - prevalence increase seems to reflect changes in diagnostic practice and ascertainment. A key part of ASD assessment is to document that the relevant symptoms are associated with clinical impairment. The aim of the present study is to capitalize on a nationwide longitudinal study spanning 15 consecutive birth year cohorts in order to investigate whether there has been a secular change in how parents perceive the impairment and suffering conferred by autism symptomatology in their children. Methods Data came from the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (27,240 individuals), where parents had reported on their child's ASD symptoms and impairment. Impairment due to ASD symptoms was regressed on an ASD symptom score across time. This was done for five 3-year birth cohorts (1995-1997, 1998-2000, 2001-2003, 2004-2006, and 2007-2009). Results Reported impairment increased with consecutively later birth cohorts. This was evident across all levels of autism symptomatology. At clinically relevant levels of symptomatology, parents of those born 2007-2009 reported a 23% higher degree of impairment as compared with parents of those born in 1995-1997. The relative difference, however, was even greater at levels that previously would have been considered below the diagnostic threshold. Discussion The results presented here contribute to the notion of a growing diffuseness in the conceptualization of the ASD diagnosis by adding the element of secular changes in the parental perception of the consequences of ASD symptom expression.
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| 9. |
- Marinopoulou, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Asperger Syndrome and Schizophrenia : A Comparative Neuropsychological Study
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - New York : Springer. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 46:7, s. 2292-2304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There has been an increasing interest in possible connections between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia in the last decade. Neuropsychological comparison studies have, however, been few. The present study examined similarities and differences in intellectual and executive functioning between adults with Asperger syndrome (AS) and adults with schizophrenic psychosis (SP). A group with AS and a group with SP were assessed neuropsychologically with WAIS-III and D-KEFS. Similarities were found between groups, as displayed by an uneven cognitive profile, limitations in working memory, processing speed and some aspects of executive functioning. Full Scale IQ was higher in the AS group. These results add to the current research illuminating similarities and differences between ASD and schizophrenia on a cognitive level.
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| 10. |
- Mårland, Caroline, 1987, et al.
(författare)
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Measuring autism in males and females with a differential item functioning approach: Results from a nation-wide population-based study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Psychiatry Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-1781 .- 1872-7123. ; 314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Existing screening instruments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) might be prone to detect a male manifestation of ASD. Here, we examined the 17 items from the ASD domain in the Autism-Tics, ADHD and other Comorbidities inventory (A-TAC) for Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Data were obtained from the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS) in which parents have responded to the A-TAC. Information regarding a registered diagnosis of ASD were retrieved from the National Patient Register. The cohort was divided into a developmental sample for evaluation of DIF, and a validation sample for examination of the diagnostic accuracy of the total ASD domain, and a novel male and female short form. Our main finding included the identification of DIF for six items, three favouring males and three favouring females. The full, 17 item, ASD domain and the male and female short form showed excellent ability to capture ASD diagnoses in both males and females up to the age of nine years. The full ASD domain in A-TAC is psychometrically largely equivalent across sex and the limited differences between males and females diminish the need for a sex-specific scoring when utilizing the 17 item total score.
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