| 1. |
- Egorova, Olga, et al.
(author)
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Maternal blood folate status during early pregnancy and occurrence of autism spectrum disorder in offspring: a study of 62 serum biomarkers
- 2020
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In: Molecular Autism. - : BioMed Central. - 2040-2392. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) evolves from an interplay between genetic and environmental factors during prenatal development. Since identifying maternal biomarkers associated with ASD risk in offspring during early pregnancy might result in new strategies for intervention, we investigated maternal metabolic biomarkers in relation to occurrence of ASD in offspring using both univariate logistic regression and multivariate network analysis.Methods: Serum samples from 100 women with an offspring diagnosed with ASD and 100 matched control women with typically developing offspring were collected at week 14 of pregnancy. Concentrations of 62 metabolic biomarkers were determined, including amino acids, vitamins (A, B, D, E, and K), and biomarkers related to folate (vitamin B9) metabolism, lifestyle factors, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), the kynurenine-tryptophan ratio (KTR), and neopterin as markers of inflammation and immune activation.Results: We found weak evidence for a positive association between higher maternal serum concentrations of folate and increased occurrence of ASD (OR per 1 SD increase: 1.70, 95% CI 1.22–2.37, FDR adjusted P = 0.07). Multivariate network analysis confirmed expected internal biochemical relations between the biomarkers. Neither inflammation markers nor vitamin D3 levels, all hypothesized to be involved in ASD etiology, displayed associations with ASD occurrence in the offspring.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high maternal serum folate status during early pregnancy may be associated with the occurrence of ASD in offspring. No inference about physiological mechanisms behind this observation can be made at the present time because blood folate levels may have complex relations with nutritional intake, the cellular folate status and status of other B-vitamins. Therefore, further investigations, which may clarify the potential role and mechanisms of maternal blood folate status in ASD risk and the interplay with other potential risk factors, in larger materials are warranted.
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| 2. |
- Kuja-Halkola, Ralf, et al.
(author)
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Reproductive stoppage in autism spectrum disorder in a population of 2.5 million individuals
- 2019
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In: Molecular Autism. - : BioMed Central. - 2040-2392. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: It has been suggested that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) curtail their reproduction, a phenomenon known as reproductive stoppage. To investigate the presence of reproductive stoppage, we followed the reproduction in mothers of children with or without an ASD diagnosis using Swedish population-based registries.Methods: We followed all families with first child born in 1987 or later. In total 2,521,103 children, nested within 1,270,017 mothers, were included. Exposure was presence of ASD diagnosis in earlier born siblings, and outcome was considered as (1) inter-pregnancy interval and (2) number of subsequent children.Results: Analyses of inter-pregnancy intervals showed that the association differed across birth orders, with a lower rate of second children when first child had ASD diagnosis, but an increased rate of third and higher birth orders in families where a previous child had an ASD diagnosis. When all birth orders were simultaneously considered, families with a child with an ASD diagnosis were less likely to have another child (hazard ratio (HR), 0.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.78-0.80). However, when adjusted for birth order, the association was close to null (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99), and after additional adjustments (maternal age, birth period, sex, paternal age, and maternal education), the association disappeared (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99-1.02). In analyses of subsequent children, after adjustment for covariates, families with an ASD diagnosis had 4% more subsequent children (rate ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.05).Limitations: The study was undertaken in a country with largely tax-funded healthcare; results may not generalize to other societies. Following the current dominating umbrella concept of ASD, we did not differentiate between the ASD sub-diagnoses; it is possible that reproductive patterns can be dependent on ASD subtypes and the severity and composition of ASD phenotypes and comorbidities.Conclusions: This study does not support a universal reproductive stoppage effect in ASD families, when birth order and other factors are considered. Therefore, proper attention to birth order and other factors may alleviate potential bias in familial aggregation studies of ASD.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Achermann, Sheila, et al.
(author)
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Motor atypicalities in infancy are associated with general developmental level at 2 years, but not autistic symptoms
- 2020
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In: Autism. - : SAGE Publications Ltd. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 24:7, s. 1650-1663
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Atypical motor development has frequently been reported in infants at elevated likelihood for autism spectrum disorder. However, no previous study has used detailed motion capture technology to compare infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder and infant siblings with no familial history of autism spectrum disorder. We investigated reaching movements during an interceptive action task in 10-month-old infants using kinematic data with high spatiotemporal resolution. The results indicated that several measures were different in infants at elevated likelihood. However, longitudinal analyses revealed that while specific infant motor measures (e.g. number of movement units) were related to broad measures of general developmental level in toddlerhood, the associations with later autism spectrum disorder symptomatology were not significant. These findings confirm that some aspects of motor functioning are atypical in infants at elevated likelihood for autism spectrum disorder, but provide no support for the view that these issues are specifically linked to autism spectrum disorder symptoms, but may rather reflect neurodevelopment more generally.Lay abstractAtypicalities in motor functioning are often observed in later born infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder. The goal of our study was to investigate motor functioning in infants with and without familial history of autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we investigated how infants catch a ball that is rolling toward them following a non-straight path, a task that requires both efficient planning and execution. Their performance was measured using detailed three-dimensional motion capture technology. We found that several early motor functioning measures were different in infants with an older autistic sibling compared to controls. However, these early motor measures were not related to autistic symptoms at the age of 2 years. Instead, we found that some of the early motor measures were related to their subsequent non-social, general development. The findings of our study help us understand motor functioning early in life and how motor functioning is related to other aspects of development.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Achermann, Sheila, et al.
(author)
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Updating Expectations about Unexpected Object Motion in Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 2021
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In: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - : Springer Nature. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 51:11, s. 4186-4198
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In typical development, infants form predictions about future events based on incoming sensory information, which is essential for perception and goal-directed action. It has been suggested that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make predictions differently compared to neurotypical individuals. We investigated how infants who later received an ASD diagnosis and neurotypical infants react to temporarily occluded moving objects that violate initial expectations about object motion. Our results indicate that infants regardless of clinical outcome react similarly to unexpected object motion patterns, both in terms of gaze shift latencies and pupillary responses. These findings indicate that the ability to update representations about such regularities in light of new information may not differ between typically developing infants and those with later ASD.
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| 9. |
- Afsharnejad, Bahareh, et al.
(author)
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Cross-cultural adaptation to Australia of the KONTAKT© Social Skills Group Training Program for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder : A feasibility study
- 2020
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In: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - : Springer. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 50, s. 4297-4316
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the feasibility and cultural validity of KONTAKT©, a manualised social skills group training, in improving the social functioning of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). KONTAKT© was delivered to 17 adolescents (mage = 14.09, SDage = 1.43; 70% male) with ASD over sixteen 90 min sessions. A pre-test post-test design evaluated changes in personally meaningful social goals, symptom severity, quality of life, interpersonal efficacy, social anxiety, loneliness, and facial emotion recognition at pre, post and 3 months follow-up. Focus groups were conducted post intervention. Findings indicate that KONTAKT© may support Australian adolescents with ASD in achieving their personally meaningful social goals. This study resulted in finalisation of KONTAKT© in preparation for evaluation of its efficacy in a randomised controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12617001117303, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03294668).
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| 10. |
- Afsharnejad, Bahareh, et al.
(author)
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KONTAKT© for Australian adolescents on the autism spectrum : Protocol of a randomized control trial
- 2019
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In: Trials. - : BioMed Central. - 1745-6215. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience impairing challenges in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts. While social skills group training (SSGT) has shown moderate effects on various sociability outcomes in ASD, there is a need for (1) replication of effects in additional clinical and cultural contexts, (2) designs that employ active control groups, (3) calculation of health economic benefits, (4) identification of the optimal training duration, and (5) measurement of individual goals and quality of life outcomes.METHOD/DESIGN:With the aim of investigating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a SSGT, KONTAKT©, a two-armed randomized control trial with adolescents aged 12-17 years (N = 90) with ASD and an intelligence quotient (IQ) of over 70 will be undertaken. Following stratification for centre and gender, participants will be randomly assigned to either KONTAKT© or to an active control group, a group-based cooking programme. Participants will attend both programmes in groups of 6-8 adolescents, over 16 one-and-a-half-hour sessions. The primary outcome examined is adolescent self-rated achievement of personally meaningful social goals as assessed via the Goal Attainment Scaling during an interview with a blinded clinician. Secondary outcomes include adolescent self-reported interpersonal efficacy, quality of life, social anxiety, loneliness, face emotion recognition performance and associated gaze behaviour, and parent proxy reports of autistic traits, quality of life, social functioning, and emotion recognition and expression. Cost-effectiveness will be investigated in relation to direct and indirect societal and healthcare costs.DISCUSSION:The primary outcomes of this study will be evidenced in the anticipated achievement of adolescents' personally meaningful social goals following participation in KONTAKT© as compared to the active control group. This design will enable rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of KONTAKT©, exercising control over the possibly confounding effect of exposure to a social context of peers with a diagnosis of ASD.TRIAL REGISTRATION:Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). ACTRN12617001117303. Registered on 31 July 2017. anzctr.org.au ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03294668. Registered on 22 September 2017. https://clinicaltrials.gov.
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| 11. |
- Afsharnejad, Bahareh, et al.
(author)
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The Methodological Quality and Intervention Fidelity of Randomised Controlled Trials Evaluating Social Skills Group Programs in Autistic Adolescents : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- 2024
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In: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - : Springer. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 54, s. 1281-1316
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A systematic review and meta-analysis were utilised to explore the methodological quality, program fidelity, and efficacy of social skills group programs (SSGPs) aiming to support autistic adolescents in navigating their everyday social worlds. The study evaluated the methodological quality and theoretical fidelity of studies, with a random effect meta-analysis conducted to summarise the overall efficacy of SSGP and its effect on social communication and interaction, behavioural/emotional challenges, adaptive functioning, and autism characteristics. Although findings from the 18 identified studies indicated an adjusted medium overall effect with these programs successfully supporting autistic adolescents’ socialisation needs (g = 0. 60, p < 0.001), most studies demonstrated medium to low program fidelity despite their good methodological quality. Given the significant heterogeneity of SSGPs and variations in the design and measurement frameworks of efficacy studies, understanding the generalisability of the findings of this research is unclear.
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| 12. |
- Ahlberg, Richard, et al.
(author)
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Shared familial risk factors between autism spectrum disorder and obesity : a register‐based familial coaggregation cohort study
- 2022
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In: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0021-9630 .- 1469-7610. ; 63:8, s. 890-899
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Meta-analyses suggest an association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obesity, but the factors underlying this association remain unclear. This study investigated the association between ASD and obesity stratified on intellectual disability (ID). In addition, in order to gain insight into possible shared etiological factors, the potential role of shared familial liability was examined.Method: We studied a cohort of 3,141,696 individuals by linking several Swedish nationwide registers. We identified 35,461 individuals with ASD and 61,784 individuals with obesity. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between ASD and obesity separately by ID and sex and by adjusting for parental education, psychiatric comorbidity, and psychotropic medication. Potential shared familial etiologic factors were examined by comparing the risk of obesity in full siblings, maternal and paternal half-siblings, and full- and half-cousins of individuals with ASD to the risk of obesity in relatives of individuals without ASD.Results: Individuals with ASD + ID (OR = 3.76 [95% CI, 3.38-4.19]) and ASD-ID (OR = 3.40 [95% CI, 3.23-3.58]) had an increased risk for obesity compared with individuals without ASD. The associations remained statistically significant when adjusting for parental education, psychiatric comorbidity, and medication. Sex-stratified analyses indicated a higher relative risk for males compared with females, with statistically significant interaction effects for ASD-ID, but not for ASD+ID in the fully adjusted model. First-degree relatives of individuals with ASD+ID and ASD-ID had an increased risk of obesity compared with first-degree relatives of individuals without ASD. The obesity risk was similar in second-degree relatives of individuals with ASD+ID but was lower for and ASD-ID. Full cousins of individuals with ASD+ID had a higher risk compared with half-cousins of individuals with ASD+ID). A similar difference in the obesity risk between full cousins and half-cousins was observed for ASD-ID.Conclusions: Individuals with ASD and their relatives are at increased risk for obesity. The risk might be somewhat higher for males than females. This warrants further studies examining potential common pleiotropic genetic factors and shared family-wide environmental factors for ASD and obesity. Such research might aid in identifying specific risks and underlying mechanisms in common between ASD and obesity.
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| 13. |
- Allodi Westling, Mara, 1959-, et al.
(author)
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Discussing Projects in Special Education Directed Towards Early Interventions in Childhood Education in the Swedish Context
- 2019
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In: Research to Practice in Early Intervention.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In Sweden, Early Childhood Education and Care is a right for every child and children in need of special support have access to these provisions in inclusive mainstream settings. National evaluations show great quality variations in special educational support in preschools and schools across the country. A Multicenter Research School with 10 PhD students from four Universities and international partners has been funded (2018- 2021) by the Swedish Research Council to develop knowledge in early intervention. Preschool/school environments are assessed and tailored interventions at unit or child level are developed. The projects are built on previous research and identified needs in research and practice. The theoretical framework for the Research School will be described, results from a systematic review of previous research and specific plans for various topics (engagement, early literacy, expressive language development, socio- emotional development, self-regulation) will be presented and linked to the theoretical framework.
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| 14. |
- Anckarsäter, Henrik, 1966, et al.
(author)
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The Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS).
- 2011
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In: Twin Research and Human Genetics. - : Cambridge University Press (CUP). - 1832-4274 .- 1839-2628. ; 14:6, s. 495-508
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS) is an ongoing longitudinal twin study targeting all twins born in Sweden since July 1, 1992. Since 2004, parents of twins are interviewed regarding the children's somatic and mental health and social environment in connection with their 9th or 12th birthdays (CATSS-9/12). By January 2010, 8,610 parental interviews concerning 17,220 twins had been completed, with an overall response rate of 80%. At age 15 (CATSS-15) and 18 (CATSS-18), twins and parents complete questionnaires that, in addition to assessments of somatic and mental health, include measures of personality development and psychosocial adaptation. Twin pairs in CATSS-9/12 with one or both twins screening positive for autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, developmental coordination disorder, learning disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and/or eating problems have been followed with in-depth questionnaires on family, social environment and personality, and subsequently by clinical assessments at age 15 together with randomly selected population controls, including 195 clinically assessed twin pairs from the first 2 year cohorts (CATSS-15/DOGSS). This article describes the cohorts and study groups, data collection, and measures used. Prevalences, distributions, heritability estimates, ages at onset, and sex differences of mental health problems in the CATSS-9/12, that were analyzed and found to be overall comparable to those of other clinical and epidemiological studies. The CATSS study has the potential of answering important questions on the etiology of childhood mental health problems and their role in the development of later adjustment problems.
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| 15. |
- Anney, Richard, et al.
(author)
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A genome-wide scan for common alleles affecting risk for autism.
- 2010
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 19:20, s. 4072-4082
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a substantial genetic basis, most of the known genetic risk has been traced to rare variants, principally copy number variants (CNVs). To identify common risk variation, the Autism Genome Project (AGP) Consortium genotyped 1558 rigorously defined ASD families for 1 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and analyzed these SNP genotypes for association with ASD. In one of four primary association analyses, the association signal for marker rs4141463, located within MACROD2, crossed the genome-wide association significance threshold of P < 5 × 10(-8). When a smaller replication sample was analyzed, the risk allele at rs4141463 was again over-transmitted; yet, consistent with the winner's curse, its effect size in the replication sample was much smaller; and, for the combined samples, the association signal barely fell below the P < 5 × 10(-8) threshold. Exploratory analyses of phenotypic subtypes yielded no significant associations after correction for multiple testing. They did, however, yield strong signals within several genes, KIAA0564, PLD5, POU6F2, ST8SIA2 and TAF1C.
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| 16. |
- Anney, Richard, et al.
(author)
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Individual common variants exert weak effects on the risk for autism spectrum disorders.
- 2012
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 21:21, s. 4781-92
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While it is apparent that rare variation can play an important role in the genetic architecture of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the contribution of common variation to ASD risk is less clear. To produce a more comprehensive picture, we report Stage 2 of the Autism Genome Project genome-wide association study, adding 1301 ASD families and bringing the total to 2705 families analysed (Stages 1 and 2). In addition to evaluating association of individual SNPs, we also sought evidence that common variants, en masse, might affect risk. Despite genotyping over a million SNPs covering the genome, no single SNP shows significant association with ASD or selected phenotypes at a genome-wide level. The SNP that achieves the smallest p-value from secondary analyses is rs1718101. It falls in CNTNAP2, a gene previously implicated in susceptibility for ASD. This SNP also shows modest association with age of word/phrase acquisition in ASD subjects, of interest because features of language development are also associated with other variation in CNTNAP2. By contrast, allele-scores derived from the transmission of common alleles to Stage 1 cases significantly predict case-status in the independent Stage 2 sample. Despite being significant, the variance explained by these allele scores was small (Vm< 1%). Based on results from individual SNPs and their en masse effect on risk, as inferred from the allele-score results, it is reasonable to conclude that common variants affect ASD risk but their individual effects are modest.
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| 17. |
- Astenvald, Rebecka, et al.
(author)
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Emotion dysregulation in ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions : a co-twin control study
- 2022
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In: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. - : Springer Nature. - 1753-2000. ; 16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Emotion dysregulation (ED) is common in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and often results in adverse outcomes. However, ED has been suggested as a transdiagnostic construct, why the specific association between ADHD and ED when adjusting for other mental health conditions needs further investigation. It is also important to determine the aetiological basis of the association between ADHD and ED to inform the theoretical conceptualization of ADHD.METHOD: This study used a co-twin control design, including a sample of dizygotic (DZ) and monozygotic (MZ) twins (N = 389; 45.8% females, age = 8-31 years, MZ twin pairs 57.6%). ED was assessed using the dysregulation profile from the parent-rated Child Behaviour Checklist and its adult version. Regression analyses were used across individuals and within the pairs, while adjusting for diagnoses of autism, intellectual disability, other neurodevelopmental conditions and affective conditions.RESULTS: ADHD was significantly associated with ED, even when adjusting for age, sex, attention problems and other mental health conditions, and was the diagnosis most strongly associated with ED. Within-pair analyses revealed that twins with ADHD had higher levels of ED compared to their co-twin without ADHD. This association remained within DZ twins and was non-significant in the MZ subsample, with non-overlapping confidence intervals between the DZ and MZ estimates.CONCLUSION: ADHD is strongly and in part independently linked to ED, stressing the importance of early detection and treatment of emotional difficulties within this group. The findings from the within-pair analyses indicate a genetic influence on the association between ADHD and ED.
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| 18. |
- Austin, Christine, et al.
(author)
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Elemental Dynamics in Hair Accurately Predict Future Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis : An International Multi-Center Study
- 2022
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In: Journal of Clinical Medicine. - : MDPI. - 2077-0383. ; 11:23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition diagnosed in approximately 2% of children. Reliance on the emergence of clinically observable behavioral patterns only delays the mean age of diagnosis to approximately 4 years. However, neural pathways critical to language and social functions develop during infancy, and current diagnostic protocols miss the age when therapy would be most effective. We developed non-invasive ASD biomarkers using mass spectrometry analyses of elemental metabolism in single hair strands, coupled with machine learning. We undertook a national prospective study in Japan, where hair samples were collected at 1 month and clinical diagnosis was undertaken at 4 years. Next, we analyzed a national sample of Swedish twins and, in our third study, participants from a specialist ASD center in the US. In a blinded analysis, a predictive algorithm detected ASD risk as early as 1 month with 96.4% sensitivity, 75.4% specificity, and 81.4% accuracy (n = 486; 175 cases). These findings emphasize that the dynamics in elemental metabolism are systemically dysregulated in autism, and these signatures can be detected and leveraged in hair samples to predict the emergence of ASD as early as 1 month of age.
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| 19. |
- Barman, Malin, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Nutritional impact on Immunological maturation during Childhood in relation to the Environment (NICE): a prospective birth cohort in northern Sweden
- 2018
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055 .- 2044-6055. ; 8:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. INTRODUCTION: Prenatal and neonatal environmental factors, such as nutrition, microbes and toxicants, may affect health throughout life. Many diseases, such as allergy and impaired child development, may be programmed already in utero or during early infancy. Birth cohorts are important tools to study associations between early life exposure and disease risk. Here, we describe the study protocol of the prospective birth cohort, 'Nutritional impact on Immunological maturation during Childhood in relation to the Environment' (NICE). The primary aim of the NICE cohort is to clarify the effect of key environmental exposures-diet, microbes and environmental toxicants-during pregnancy and early childhood, on the maturation of the infant's immune system, including initiation of sensitisation and allergy as well as some secondary outcomes: infant growth, obesity, neurological development and oral health.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The NICE cohort will recruit about 650 families during mid-pregnancy. The principal inclusion criterion will be planned birth at the Sunderby Hospital in the north of Sweden, during 2015-2018. Questionnaires data and biological samples will be collected at 10 time-points, from pregnancy until the children reach 4 years of age. Samples will be collected primarily from mothers and children, and from fathers. Biological samples include blood, urine, placenta, breast milk, meconium, faeces, saliva and hair. Information regarding allergic heredity, diet, socioeconomic status, lifestyle including smoking, siblings, pet ownership, etc will be collected using questionnaires. Sensitisation to common allergens will be assessed by skin prick testing and allergic disease will be diagnosed by a paediatrician at 1 and 4 years of age. At 4 years of age, the children will also be examined regarding growth, neurobehavioural and neurophysiological status and oral health.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The NICE cohort has been approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Umeå, Sweden (2013/18-31M). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and communicated on scientific conferences.
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| 20. |
- Bejnö, Hampus, et al.
(author)
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Adapting the Preschool Environment to the Needs of Children on the Autism Spectrum in Sweden : A quasi-experimental study
- 2023
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1103-8128 .- 1651-2014. ; 30:3, s. 278-297
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND Children on the autism spectrum may receive Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) in Sweden to support development by providing learning opportunities. However, research suggests a need to improve the quality of their learning environment.AIM This pre-registered study (#NCT03634761) aimed to evaluate the Swedish Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS-P-SE) as a means to promote the quality of the pre-school learning environment for children on the autism spectrum, along with outcomes for these children, and their pre-school staff.MATERIAL AND METHODS In a quasi-experimental study, pre-school staff (n = 35) conducted either EIBI supported by in-service training and on-site coaching based on APERS-P-SE assessment (at k = 9 preschools) or EIBI only (k = 8), during an 8-months period.RESULTS The quality of the immediate learning environment (primary outcome) increased significantly in the EIBI/APERS-P-SE preschools. However, changes in child and pre-school staff measures were not significant.CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE In-service training and on-site coaching based on APERS-P-SE assessments can increase the quality of the learning environment in Swedish pre-school. Studies of longer duration and larger sample size are required to determine if using the APERS-P-SE can also achieve desired behavioural change for children-, and impact pre-school staff applying EIBI.
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| 21. |
- Bejnö, Hampus, et al.
(author)
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Cross-Cultural Content Validity of the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale in Sweden
- 2019
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In: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 49:5, s. 1853-1862
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Increasing rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and younger age at diagnosis pose a challenge to preschool intervention systems. In Sweden, most young autistic children receive intervention service in community-based preschool programs, but no tool is yet available to assess the quality of the preschool learning environment. This study adapted the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale Preschool/Elementary to Swedish community context (APERS-P-SE). Following translation and a multistep modification process, independent experts rated the content validity of the adaptation. Findings indicate high cross-cultural validity of the adapted APERS-P-SE. The cultural adaption process of the APERS-P-SE highlights similarities and differences between the American and Swedish preschool systems and their impact on early ASD intervention.
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| 22. |
- Bejnö, Hampus, 1984-
(author)
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Early intervention and autism : Improving preschool program quality for children with autism spectrum disorder receiving Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention using the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS)
- 2021
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The quality of the learning environment in preschool is of significant importance for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, very limited research has addressed how this environment can be improved. In regard to early intervention, most previous studies have primarily focused on child characteristics, and intervention content and quantity, rather than the broader learning environment in which interventions are delivered. Thus, the overall aim of this thesis was to study the quality of the learning environment for children with ASD. In particular, the focus was on children who receive Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) in community-based Swedish preschools, using the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS). Within this framework, three studies were conducted.In study 1, we translated, culturally adapted, and systematically assessed the content validity of APERS, a rating scale designed to assess the program quality for children with ASD in educational settings. In the process, the scale was modified to make the instrument as relevant as possible for the Swedish preschool context, and re-named APERS-P-SE. Nine experts rated the clarity and comprehensiveness of the individual items, as well as the relevance of the scale in its entirety. In study 2, we evaluated APERS-P-SE as the foundation for professional development for preschool staff working with children with ASD receiving EIBI, to promote preschool learning environment quality (primary outcome), and outcomes for autistic children, and preschool staff (secondary outcomes). Using a quasi-experimental design, preschool staff either implemented EIBI enriched by in-service training and on-site coaching based on APERS-P-SE assessments (k = 9), or EIBI only (k = 8) during 8 months. A total of 17 children and 35 preschool staff participated, across 17 preschools. In study 3, individual interviews and focus-group interviews were conducted with preschool staff, preschool principals, habilitation supervisors, and parents to children with ASD who had participated in study 2 and received the APERS-P-SE-based intervention. Through these interviews, the different groups of stakeholders provided their thoughts about what they found to be the most important aspects of preschool programs for autistic children who receive EIBI, and their opinions and experiences of participating in study 2. Study 1 demonstrated a high level of content validity for the Swedish version of the APERS. In study 2, the EIBI/APERS-P-SE preschools significantly improved their learning environment, compared to the preschools that received EIBI only. Outcomes for autistic children and preschool staff did not differ significantly between the groups, despite positive descriptive findings. In study 3, four themes were identified as being key aspects of preschool programs with high quality to promote optimal development of children with ASD: (1) staff’s competence, (2) children’s inclusion and participation, (3) collaboration, and (4) learning environment. Overall, the stakeholders described the APERS-P-SE-based model as helpful in improving children’s participation, preschool staff’s engagement with the child, and optimizing child outcomes.Taken together, the results indicate that APERS-P-SE is an instrument with a high level of content validity, and that it can be used in combination with in-service training and on-site coaching to improve preschool program quality for children with ASD.
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| 23. |
- Bejnö, Hampus, et al.
(author)
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From Someone Who May Cause Trouble to Someone You Can Play With : Stakeholders' Perspectives on Preschool Program Quality for Autistic Children
- 2022
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In: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0162-3257 .- 1573-3432. ; 52:9, s. 3890-3908
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Sweden, young autistic children typically attend community-based preschool programs, which may not be adapted to their needs. In the current study, stakeholders to autistic children receiving Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention were interviewed following a quasi-randomized study (#NCT03634761) aimed at improving the preschool program quality using the Swedish version of the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS). Stakeholders provided their perceptions and experiences concerning key factors for high quality preschool programs as well as well as their experiences of the abovementioned APERS study. Applying thematic analysis, stakeholder groups differed in what they emphasized, but all highlighted staff’s competence, children’s inclusion and participation, collaboration, and the learning environment as key program areas that had been positively influenced by the APERS-based intervention.
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| 24. |
- Bejnö, Hampus, et al.
(author)
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Using a competency based model to improve prerequisites for implementation of EIBI : Insights and perspectives from Sweden
- 2019
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- A prerequisite for effective implementation of early intensive behavioral interventions is a high quality learning environment. However, research to date suggests that the learning environment in community based Swedish preschools is not optimal for children with ASD. A brief overview of the Swedish early intervention support system will be followed by a description of the cultural adaption of the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS-PE). Furthermore, an ongoing comparative study involving 17 preschools will be described. All participating preschools have children enrolled in EIBI preschool programs, entailing that paraprofessionals and parents obtain supervision at habilitation centers. In addition preschool staff in the study’s experimental group receive monthly on-site coaching, and in-service training on evidence based practices and autism. Outcome measures include pre-post APERS-PE assessments, child engagement and adaptive behavior, and staff knowledge and self-efficacy. Preliminary findings indicate increased learning environment quality in the study’s experimental group as rated by APERS-PE.
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| 25. |
- Berggren, Steve, et al.
(author)
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Emotion recognition training in autism spectrum disorder : A systematic review of challenges related to generalizability.
- 2018
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In: Developmental Neurorehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1751-8423 .- 1751-8431. ; 21:3, s. 141-154
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: To assess the generalizability of findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating emotion recognition (ER) training for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).METHODS: We present a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the determinants of external validity in RCTs on ER training. Generalizability of the findings across situations, populations, settings, treatment delivery, and intervention formats was considered.RESULTS: We identified 13 eligible studies. Participants were predominantly boys with ASD in the normative IQ range (IQ > 70), with an age span from 4 to 18 years across studies. Interventions and outcome measures were highly variable. Several studies indicated that training may improve ER, but it is still largely unknown to what extent training effects are translated to daily social life.CONCLUSION: The generalizability of findings from currently available RCTs remains unclear. This underscores the importance of involving children with ASD and their caregivers in informed treatment decisions.
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