| 1. |
- Blomqvist, My, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of dental care and dental anxiety in adults with autism spectrum disorder
- 2014
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Ingår i: Autism Research and Treatment. - New York, USA : Hindawi Publishing Corporation. - 2090-1925 .- 2090-1933. ; 2014
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dental anxiety is associated with previous distressing dental experiences, such as lack of understanding of the dentist intentions, perceptions of uncontrollability and experiences of pain during dental treatment. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are impaired in building flexible predictions and expectations, which is very much needed during a dental visit. The aims of the study were to investigate if people with ASD have more negative dental experiences and a higher level of dental anxiety compared to a matched control group. Forty-seven adults with ASD and of normal intellectual performance, and 69 age- and sex-matched typically developing controls completed questionnaires on previous dental experiences and dental anxiety, the Dental Anxiety Scale, and the Dental Beliefs Survey. The ASD group experienced pain during dental treatments more often than the controls and 22% had repeatedly experienced being forced to dental treatment they were not prepared for, compared to 3% of the controls. A higher level of dental anxiety was reported by the ASD group. Dental treatment and methods for supporting the communication with patients with ASD need to be developed, in order to reduce the negative dental experiences and dental anxiety in people with ASD.
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| 2. |
- Plenty, Stephanie, et al.
(författare)
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Applying an ESSENCE framework to understanding adult autism spectrum disorder and ADHD : retrospective parent reports of childhood problems
- 2013
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Ingår i: Scientific World Journal. - New York, USA : Hindawi Publishing Corporation. - 1537-744X. ; 2013
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are increasingly being made in adulthood. However, assessments can fail to address the diverse range of problems that patients have experienced. The current study applied an early symptomatic syndromes eliciting neurodevelopmental clinical examinations (ESSENCE) framework to explore retrospectively reported childhood developmental and behavioral problems. It examined if adult ASD and ADHD patients would show problems outside those reflected in the respective diagnostic criteria, and also if these patient groups would show more extensive childhood problems than other psychiatric patients. Parents of adults with ADHD (n = 130), ASD (n = 57), coexisting ADHD and ASD (n = 38), and other psychiatric disorders (n = 56) reported on a range of childhood problems. Descriptions of the ADHD, ASD, and ADHD+ASD groups reflected greater impairment than descriptions for patients with other psychiatric disorders in most problem areas. Although differences were observed between ADHD and ASD patients in the core diagnostic areas, these syndromes also shared a number of childhood difficulties. The ESSENCE approach can assist in understanding the symptom history of adult ADHD and ASD patients and can be helpful to distinguish their childhood experiences from other psychiatric patients' experiences.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Hesselmark, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Patient Satisfaction and Treatments Offered to Swedish Patients with Suspected Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology. - : Mary Ann Liebert. - 1044-5463 .- 1557-8992. ; 29:8, s. 634-641
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) are subtypes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with suggested autoimmune etiology. Immunomodulatory treatments have been introduced as treatment options. A recent systematic review concluded that the evidence for all treatment options for PANS and PANDAS is inconclusive. However, case reports and clinical experience suggest that antibiotics and immunomodulatory treatment may be helpful. Treatment may also affect the patients' satisfaction with health care services offered. This study aims to describe the treatments given to a cohort of Swedish patients with suspected PANS and PANDAS, the patient rated treatment effects, and to establish if any specific treatment predicts higher patient satisfaction.Methods: Fifty-three patients (m = 33, f = 20, median age = 14, age range = 4-36) with suspected PANS or PANDAS were enrolled and assessed for PANS and PANDAS caseness, treatments given, treatment effects, global improvement, and patient satisfaction. Cases with confirmed and suspected PANS or PANDAS were compared regarding the frequency of treatments given and treatment effect. A linear regression model was used to see if treatments given or global improvement predicted patient satisfaction.Results: Twenty-four participants fulfilled criteria for PANS or PANDAS and 29 did not. The most common treatments given were antibiotics (88%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (67%), cognitive behavioral therapy (53%), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (42%). There were no major differences between confirmed and suspected cases regarding what treatments they had received or their effect. Patient satisfaction was predicted by overall clinical improvement at the time of assessment. Antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were rated as the most successful treatments by participants and were associated with higher patient satisfaction.Conclusions: It was more common that patients had received antibiotics than common psychiatric treatments for their psychiatric symptoms. Antibiotics and IVIG were experienced as effective treatments by the patients. Patient satisfaction was on average moderately low, and higher patient satisfaction was associated with global clinical improvement.
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| 5. |
- Bejerot, Susanne, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Childhood clumsiness and peer victimization : a case-control study of psychiatric patients
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMC Psychiatry. - London, United Kingdom : BioMed Central. - 1471-244X. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Poor motor and social skills as well as peer victimization are commonly reported in both ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. Positive relationships between poor motor and poor social skills, and between poor social skills and peer victimization, are well documented, but the relationship between poor motor skills and peer victimization has not been studied in psychiatric populations.Method: 277 patients (133 males, 144 females), mean age 31 years, investigated for ADHD or autism spectrum disorder in adulthood and with normal intelligence, were interviewed about childhood peer victimization and examined for gross motor skills. The parents completed a comprehensive questionnaire on childhood problems, the Five to Fifteen. The Five to Fifteen is a validated questionnaire with 181 statements that covers various symptoms in childhood across eight different domains, one of them targeting motor skills. Regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between motor skills and the risk and duration of peer victimization, adjusted for sex and diagnosis.Results: Victims were described as more clumsy in childhood than their non-victimized counterparts. A significant independent association was found between reportedly poor childhood gross motor skills and peer victimization (adjusted odds ratio: 2.97 [95% confidence interval: 1.46-6.07], n = 235, p = 0.003). In adulthood, the victimized group performed worse on vertical jumps, a gross motor task, and were lonelier. Other factors that were expected to be associated with peer victimization were not found in this highly selected group.Conclusion: Poor gross motor skills constitute a strong and independent risk factor for peer victimization in childhood, regardless of sex, childhood psychiatric care and diagnosis.
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| 6. |
- Bejerot, Susanne, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Personality disorders and relationship to personality dimensions measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
- 1998
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Ingår i: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. - Copenhagen, Denmark : Munksgaard Forlag. - 0001-690X .- 1600-0447. ; 98:3, s. 243-249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The occurrence of personality disorders was investigated in 36 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder by means of the SCID Screen questionnaire. In addition, the personality dimensions were explored by means of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). In total, 75% of the patients fulfilled the criteria for a personality disorder according to the SCID Screen questionnaire, mostly (55%) within cluster C. Several significant correlations were found between the separate personality disorders (PD) and subscales of the TCI, the most pronounced being between avoidant and obsessive-compulsive PD and novelty-seeking and self-directedness. Strong correlations were also found between self-directedness and paranoid and borderline PD. In multiple regressions where the presence of PD in clusters A, B and C, respectively, were used as dependent variables and where the separate subscales of the TCI were used as independent variables, the multiple R reached 0.68, 0.76 and 0.80 in clusters A, B and C, respectively. Thus 46-64% of the variance in the personality disorder clusters could be explained by the TCI subscales.
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| 7. |
- Bejerot, Susanne, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Sexuality and gender role in autism spectrum disorder : a case control study
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco, USA : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 9:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The 'extreme male brain theory of autism' describes an extreme male pattern of cognitive traits defined as strong systemising abilities paired with empathising weaknesses in autism spectrum disorder. However, beyond these cognitive traits, clinical observations have suggested an ambiguous gender-typed pattern regarding several sexually dimorphic traits. The aim of the present study was to investigate if patterns of non-cognitive sexually dimorphic traits differed between the autism spectrum disorder and control groups. Fifty adults with autism spectrum disorder and intelligence within the normal range, and 53 neurotypical controls responded to questions on gender role, self-perceived gender typicality and gender identity, as well as sexuality. Measures used were a Swedish modification of the Bem Sex Role Inventory and questions on sexuality and gender designed for the purpose of this study. Our results showed that one common gender role emerged in the autism spectrum disorder group. Masculinity (e.g. assertiveness, leadership and competitiveness) was weaker in the autism spectrum disorder group than in the controls, across men and women. Self-perceived gender typicality did not differ between the groups but tomboyism and bisexuality were overrepresented amongst women with autism spectrum disorder. Lower libido was reported amongst both male and female participants with autism spectrum disorder compared with controls. We conclude that the extreme male patterns of cognitive functions in the autistic brain do not seem to extend to gender role and sexuality. A gender-atypical pattern for these types of characteristics is suggested in autism spectrum disorder.
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| 8. |
- Bejerot, Susanne, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Social anxiety in adult autism spectrum disorder
- 2014
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Ingår i: Psychiatry Research. - London : Elsevier. - 0165-1781 .- 1872-7123. ; 220:1-2, s. 705-707
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A link has been suggested between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the severity of social anxiety measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Self-Report and prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) in adults with ASD, with SAD and a non-ASD comparison group. Individuals with ASD showed significantly higher scores of social anxiety and social avoidance relative to the comparison group, but significantly lower scores relative to the SAD sample.
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| 9. |
- Hesselmark, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Autism Spectrum Disorders and Self-reports : Testing Validity and Reliability Using the NEO-PI-R
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - New York, USA : Springer. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 45:5, s. 1156-1166
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although self-reported measures are frequently used to assess adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the validity of self-reports is under-researched in ASD. The core symptoms of ASD may negatively affect the psychometric properties of self-reported measures. The aim of the present study was to test the validity and reliability of self-reported data using the NEO personality inventory-revised (NEO-PI-R). Forty-eight adults with ASD and 53 controls completed the NEO-PI-R and a psychiatric interview. Results indicate satisfactory internal consistency of the NEO-PI-R, a satisfactory factor structure, predicted correlations with clinician ratings in the ASD group, and predicted differences in personality between the ASD group and controls. In conclusion, the present results support the use of self-reported measures when assessing adults with ASD.
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| 10. |
- Hesselmark, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Group cognitive behavioural therapy and group recreational activity for adults with autism spectrum disorders : a preliminary randomized controlled trial
- 2014
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Ingår i: Autism. - London, United Kingdom : Sage Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 18:6, s. 672-683
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although adults with autism spectrum disorder are an increasingly identified patient population, few treatment options are available. This preliminary randomized controlled open trial with a parallel design developed two group interventions for adults with autism spectrum disorders and intelligence within the normal range: cognitive behavioural therapy and recreational activity. Both interventions comprised 36 weekly 3-h sessions led by two therapists in groups of 6-8 patients. A total of 68 psychiatric patients with autism spectrum disorders participated in the study. Outcome measures were Quality of Life Inventory, Sense of Coherence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and an exploratory analysis on measures of psychiatric health. Participants in both treatment conditions reported an increased quality of life at post-treatment (d = 0.39, p < 0.001), with no difference between interventions. No amelioration of psychiatric symptoms was observed. The dropout rate was lower with cognitive behavioural therapy than with recreational activity, and participants in cognitive behavioural therapy rated themselves as more generally improved, as well as more improved regarding expression of needs and understanding of difficulties. Both interventions appear to be promising treatment options for adults with autism spectrum disorder. The interventions' similar efficacy may be due to the common elements, structure and group setting. Cognitive behavioural therapy may be additionally beneficial in terms of increasing specific skills and minimizing dropout.
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