| 1. |
- Kočovská, Eva, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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Autism in the Faroe Islands: Diagnostic Stability from Childhood to Early Adult Life.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Scientific World Journal. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1537-744X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Childhood autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been regarded as one of the most stable diagnostic categories applied to young children with psychiatric/developmental disorders. The stability over time of a diagnosis of ASD is theoretically interesting and important for various diagnostic and clinical reasons. We studied the diagnostic stability of ASD from childhood to early adulthood in the Faroe Islands: a total school age population sample (8–17-year-olds) was screened and diagnostically assessed for AD in 2002 and 2009. This paper compares both independent clinical diagnosis and Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) algorithm diagnosis at two time points, separated by seven years.The stability of clinical ASD diagnosis was perfect for AD, good for “atypical autism”/PDD-NOS, and less than perfect for Asperger syndrome (AS). Stability of the DISCO algorithm subcategory diagnoses was more variable but still good for AD. Both systems showed excellent stability over the seven-year period for “any ASD” diagnosis, although a number of clear cases had been missed at the original screening in 2002.The findings support the notion that subcategories of ASD should be collapsed into one overarching diagnostic entity with subgrouping achieved on other “non-autism” variables, such as IQ and language levels and overall adaptive functioning
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| 2. |
- Kočovská, Eva, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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The rising prevalence of autism: a prospective longitudinal study in the faroe islands.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 42:9, s. 1959-1966
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have followed up a 2002 population study of autism prevalence in 15-24-year olds in the Faroe Islands. The rate of ASD grew significantly from 0.56% in 2002 to 0.94% in 2009. Although these results are within the range of typical findings from other studies, there were some interesting details. There were-in addition to 43 originally diagnosed cases in 2002-24 newly discovered cases in 2009 and nearly half of them were females. It is possible that unfamiliarity with the clinical presentation of autism in females have played a significant role in this context. There was diagnostic stability for the overall category of ASD over time in the group diagnosed in childhood (7-16) years, but considerable variability as regards diagnostic sub-groupings.
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| 3. |
- Kočovská, Eva, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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Vitamin D and autism: clinical review.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Research in Developmental Disabilities. - : Elsevier BV. - 0891-4222. ; 33:5, s. 1541-1550
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. The interplay between genetic and environmental factors has become the subject of intensified research in the last several years. Vitamin D deficiency has recently been proposed as a possible environmental risk factor for ASD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current paper is to systematically review the research regarding the possible connection between ASD and vitamin D, and to provide a narrative review of the literature regarding the role of vitamin D in various biological processes in order to generate hypotheses for future research. RESULTS: Systematic data obtained by different research groups provide some, albeit very limited, support for the possible role of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of ASD. There are two main areas of involvement of vitamin D in the human body that could potentially have direct impact on the development of ASD: (1) the brain (its homeostasis, immune system and neurodevelopment) and (2) gene regulation. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency - either during pregnancy or early childhood - may be an environmental trigger for ASD in individuals genetically predisposed for the broad phenotype of autism. On the basis of the results of the present review, we argue for the recognition of this possibly important role of vitamin D in ASD, and for urgent research in the field.
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| 4. |
- Kočovská, Eva, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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Vitamin D in the General Population of Young Adults with Autism in the Faroe Islands.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-3432 .- 0162-3257. ; 44:12, s. 2996-3005
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed as a possible risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels were examined in a cross-sectional population-based study in the Faroe Islands. The case group consisting of a total population cohort of 40 individuals with ASD (aged 15-24years) had significantly lower 25(OH)D3 than their 62 typically-developing siblings and their 77 parents, and also significantly lower than 40 healthy age and gender matched comparisons. There was a trend for males having lower 25(OH)D3 than females. Effects of age, month/season of birth, IQ, various subcategories of ASD and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule score were also investigated, however, no association was found. The very low 25(OH)D3 in the ASD group suggests some underlying pathogenic mechanism.
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| 5. |
- Åsberg Johnels, Jakob, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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The relationship between intelligence and global adaptive functioning in young people with or without neurodevelopmental disorders
- 2021
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Ingår i: Psychiatry Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-1781 .- 1872-7123. ; 303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous studies have shown an association between IQ and adaptive global functioning, i.e. how well a person is functioning in different domains of life. However, it is unclear to what extent such an association applies in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The study group consisted of 550 population-screened children assessed with the K-SADS, WISC-IV, and the C-GAS. Approximately half of the sample had been diagnosed with one or several NDDs (ADHD, autism, language disorder and tic disorder). A factorial ANOVA with IQ level and the presence of NDD was conducted, with C-GAS score as the dependent variable. Results revealed a significant interaction effect between IQ-group and NDD-status. In the non-NDD group (49% girls), higher IQ scores were clearly linked with better global adaptive functioning. Among children with NDDs (35% girls), however, higher IQ scores were not clearly associated with better functioning. Thus, the association between IQ and adaptive functioning were found to differ depending on the presence of NDD. These results have implications for the interpretation of IQ test results in neurodevelopmental assessments and point towards the importance of providing support based on an assessment of needs and functioning rather than scores from IQ tests.
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| 6. |
- Anckarsäter, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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The sociocommunicative deficit subgroup in anorexia nervosa: autism spectrum disorders and neurocognition in a community-based, longitudinal study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Psychological Medicine. - 1469-8978 .- 0033-2917. ; 42:9, s. 1957-1967
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A subgroup of persons with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been proposed to have sociocommunicative problems corresponding to autism spectrum disorders [ASDs, i.e. DSM-IV pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs): autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, PDD not otherwise specified (NOS)]. Here, clinical problems, personality traits, cognitive test results and outcome are compared across 16 subjects (32%) with teenage-onset AN who meet or have met ASD criteria (AN+ASD), 34 ASD-negative AN subjects and matched controls from a longitudinal Swedish study including four waves of independent assessments from the teens to the early thirties.MethodThe fourth wave included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)-I and the SCID-II (cluster C, i.e. 'anxious' PDs) interviews, the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Interview, self-assessments by the Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Temperament and Character Inventory, neurocognitive tests by subscales from the Wechsler scales, continuous performance tests, Tower of London, and Happé's cartoons. RESULTS: The ASD assessments had substantial inter-rater reliability over time (Cohen's κ between 0.70 and 0.80 with previous assessments), even if only six subjects had been assigned a diagnosis of an ASD in all four waves of the study, including retrospective assessments of pre-AN neurodevelopmental problems. The AN+ASD group had the highest prevalence of personality disorders and the lowest Morgan-Russell scores. The non-ASD AN group also differed significantly from controls on personality traits related to poor interpersonal functioning and on neurocognitive tests. CONCLUSIONS: A subgroup of subjects with AN meet criteria for ASDs. They may represent the extreme of neurocognitive and personality problems to be found more generally in AN.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Anneli, 1992-
(författare)
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How is ADHD associated with comorbidities and health related outcomes? : The role of familial factors and ADHD during pregnancy
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. ADHD is associated with several comorbidities and health-related outcomes. However, it is uncertain whether ADHD is more strongly associated with certain disorder domains, and whether ADHD-related comorbidities and health-related outcomes is important to consider during pregnancy. Aims: To expand the knowledge regarding the genetic overlap between ADHD and other psychiatric disorder symptoms, and to increase the awareness and understanding related to ADHD in women, with a focus on adverse health behaviors, mental health problems, and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: The present thesis includes one systematic review and metaanalysis (Study I), and three studies based on population-based register data from Sweden (Study II, III, and IV), and Norway (Study II).Results: Individuals with ADHD have an increased liability to meet criteria for externalizing, internalizing and neurodevelopmental disordersymptoms, and these co-occurrences are partly due to shared genetic risks. Further, ADHD is an important risk factor to consider before, during and after pregnancy, as ADHD increases the risk of smoking during pregnancy, mental health problems postpartum, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Conclusions: The genetic overlaps between ADHD and other psychiatric disorder symptoms were similar across disorder dimensions. Further, results demonstrated that ADHD is an important risk factor to consider in women surrounding pregnancy. These findings point towards the importance of recognizing that women diagnosed with ADHD need to be prioritized and allowed more attention and support by the healthcare system, specifically during their fertile years.
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| 8. |
- André, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Personality in women and associations with mortality: a 40-year follow-up in the Population Study of Women in Gothenburg
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Women's Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6874. ; 14:61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The question of whether personality traits influence health has long been a focus for research and discussion. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine possible associations between personality traits and mortality in women. Methods: A population-based sample of women aged 38, 46, 50 and 54 years at initial examination in 1968-69 was followed over the course of 40 years. At baseline, 589 women completed the Cesarec-Marke Personality Schedule (the Swedish version of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule) and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Associations between personality traits and mortality were tested using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: No linear associations between personality traits or factor indices and mortality were found. When comparing the lowest (Q1) and highest quartile (Q4) against the two middle quartiles (Q2 + Q3), the personality trait Succorance Q1 versus Q2 + Q3 showed hazard ratio (HR) = 1.37 (confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.74), and for the factor index Aggressive non-conformance, both the lowest and highest quartiles had a significantly higher risk of death compared to Q2 + Q3: for Q1 HR = 1.32 (CI = 1.03-1.68) and for Q4 HR = 1.36 (CI = 1.06-1.77). Neither Neuroticism nor Extraversion predicted total mortality. Conclusions: Personality traits did not influence long term mortality in this population sample of women followed for 40 years from mid- to late life. One explanation may be that personality in women becomes more circumscribed due to the social constraints generated by the role of women in society.
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| 9. |
- Billstedt, Eva, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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A 37-year prospective study of neuroticism and extraversion in women followed from mid-life to late life.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 1600-0447 .- 0001-690X. ; 129:1, s. 35-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Personality traits are presumed to endure over time, but the literature regarding older age is sparse. Furthermore, interpretation may be hampered by the presence of dementia-related personality changes. The aim was to study stability in neuroticism and extraversion in a population sample of women who were followed from mid-life to late life. METHOD: A population-based sample of women born in 1918, 1922 or 1930 was examined with the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) in 1968-1969. EPI was assessed after 37years in 2005-2006 (n=153). Data from an interim examination after 24years were analysed for the subsample born in 1918 and 1922 (n=75). Women who developed dementia at follow-up examinations were excluded from the analyses. RESULTS: Mean levels of neuroticism and extraversion were stable at both follow-ups. Rank-order and linear correlations between baseline and 37-year follow-up were moderate ranging between 0.49 and 0.69. Individual changes were observed, and only 25% of the variance in personality traits in 2005-2006 could be explained by traits in 1968-1969. CONCLUSION: Personality is stable at the population level, but there is significant individual variability. These changes could not be attributed to dementia. Research is needed to examine determinants of these changes, as well as their clinical implications.
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| 10. |
- Billstedt, Eva, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Aspects of quality of life in adults diagnosed with autism in childhood: a population-based study.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Autism. - : SAGE Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 15:1, s. 7-20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study is a long-term prospective follow-up study of a population-based cohort of 120 individuals diagnosed with autism in childhood, followed into late adolescence/early adulthood. Specific aims of the study were to attempt to measure and study social aspects/quality of life in those 108 individuals with autism alive and available for study at the time of follow-up (13-22 years after original diagnosis). A newly constructed scale for rating 'autism-friendly environment'/quality of life was used alongside a structured parent/carer interview assessing current occupation, educational history, services provided, accommodation type, and recreational activities. The majority of the group with autism remained dependent on parents/caregivers for support in education, accommodation and occupational situations. In spite of this, the estimation of the study group's general quality of life was encouragingly positive. Nevertheless, there was an obvious need for improvements in the areas of occupation and recreational activities. Future studies need to look in more depth at the concept of an autism-friendly environment and develop more detailed quality of life assessment tools relevant for people in the autism spectrum.
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