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Does perinatal exposure to exogenous oxytocin influence child behavioural problems and autistic-like behaviours to 20 years of ageThis study is the first to investigate longitudinal mental health outcomes associated with the use of oxytocin-based medications during labour
Research
A realist evaluation of peer mentoring support for university students with autismStandard peer mentoring approaches can be enhanced to meet the needs of students with ASD by including training for mentors on ASD
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Social impairments in autism spectrum disorder are related to maternal immune history profilethis study is the first to show an association between immune activation history in the mother and increased ASD symptom severity in children with ASD
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Age invariance in rapid facial affective reactions to emotionally valenced stimuliRapid facial reactions to emotional stimuli are intact in late adulthood, even in response to stimuli that activate more automatic and implicit forms of emotion processing
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Prenatal maternal stress events and phenotypic outcomes in Autism Spectrum DisorderASD, in the context of prenatal maternal stress exposure, may be associated with a more severe phenotype, particularly when there are multiple prenatal exposures
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A Survey of Autistic Adults from New Zealand on the Autism Diagnostic Process During Adolescence and AdulthoodThe diagnostic experiences of autistic adults in New Zealand have not been investigated and little is known globally about autistic adults' satisfaction with the autism diagnostic process. This study describes the diagnostic experiences of 70 autistic adults living in New Zealand and explores how these experiences are related to satisfaction during three stages of the diagnostic process. The results show that autistic adults were reasonably satisfied with the early query and diagnostic assessment stages, but were dissatisfied with the post-diagnostic support stage, with significant unmet needs. Dissatisfaction during the post-diagnostic support stage was also related to satisfaction during previous stages and poor coordination of supports. Suggestions are made on how to improve the autism diagnostic pathway for autistic adults in New Zealand.
Research
The Brain Basis of Comorbidity in Neurodevelopmental DisordersThis review discusses early brain development and the etiological factors that may give rise to atypical developmental trajectories, along with neuroimaging insights
News & Events
Study sheds new light on the ‘autism epidemic’ mysteryResearchers have shown that the so called 'autism epidemic' is due to an increase in the diagnosis of children with less severe behavioural symptoms.
Research
Characterizing restricted and unusual interests in autistic youthA broad range of interests characterized by unusual content and/or intensity, labeled as circumscribed interests are a core diagnostic feature of autism. Recent evidence suggests that a distinction can be drawn between interests that, although characterized by unusually high intensity and/or inflexibility, are otherwise common in terms of their content (e.g., an interest in movies or animals), labeled as restricted interests and interests that are generally not salient outside of autism (e.g., an interest in traffic lights or categorization), labeled as unusual interests.
Research
Profiles of circumscribed interests in autistic youthCircumscribed interests encompass a range of different interests and related behaviors that can be characterized by either a high intensity but otherwise usual topic [referred to as restricted interests] or by a focus on topics that are not salient outside of autism [referred to as unusual interests].