ASD

Question 1

ASD refers to what five different disorders?

Answer 1

asperger's syndrome 
rett's syndrome 
childhood autism 
pervasive developmental disorder
pervasive developmental disorder NOS

Question 2

all five disorders in ASD have different degree of severity but what do they all have in common?

Answer 2

difficulties in social interaction and social communication

Question 3

ASD has a triad of what core impairments?

Answer 3

social communication and interaction
social imagination
repetitive behaviours

Question 4

what problems with social communication do those with ASD have?

Answer 4

generally good conversation skills but hard to grasp underlying meaning of convos
difficulties with metaphors and sarcasm
monotonous voice
narrow interests which dominate conversations
difficulty sharing thoughts and feelings

Question 5

what problems with social interaction do those with ASD have?

Answer 5

difficulties picking up non-verbal cues
appear self focused and lacking in empathy when they are just trying to figure out social situations
struggle to make and sustain relationships

Question 6

what problems with social imagination do those with ASD have?

Answer 6

difficulties thinking flexibly and in abstract ways
inability to understand other peoples point of view
difficulties applying knowledge and skills
difficulties projecting themselves into future or planning goals sensibly

Question 7

what repetitive behaviours do those with ASD engage in?

Answer 7

stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects or speech
insistence on sameness and inflexible adherence to routine
highly restricted, fixated interests
hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment

Question 8

what is the proportion of boys:girls with autism?

Answer 8

5:1

Question 9

what are the 2 pieces of evidence o say that sex hormones may play a role in the gender distribution of ASD?

Answer 9

sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels are reduced in females with aspergers syndrome, pointing to higher levels of free testosterone
male specific increases in the levels of several inflammatory markers

Question 10

what % of children and adolescents seen as gender identity clinics meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for autism?

Answer 10

8-10%

Question 11

what other pathologies can cause autistic behaviour?

Answer 11

rubella (german measles) in pregnant mother
tuberous sclerosis
fragile X syndrome 
encephalitis (brain inflammation)
untreated PKU

Question 12

is ASD strongly heritable?

Answer 12

yes

deletion, duplication and inversion are all chromosomal abnormalities involved

Question 13

what areas of the brain appear pathological in autism?

Answer 13

frontal lobes
amygdala
cerebellum

Question 14

what neurotransmitters are thought to be involved in autism?

Answer 14

glutamate receptors
GABA
serotonin

Question 15

what sensory processing difficulties may someone with ASD have?

Answer 15

taste - finds favours overpowering
smells - overpowering
sound - can be magnified and inability to cut out sounds
touch - painful and uncomfortable, only certain clothes
sight - poor depth perception, problems with throwing and catching and clumsiness

Question 16

what diagnostic tools can be used in autism?

Answer 16

good quality developmental history
screening questionnaires (3di, DISCO)
standardised assessment tools (autism diagnostic observation schedule - ADOS)
no biological markers

Question 17

what are the essential criteria for autism diagnosis?

Answer 17

symptoms must be present in early developmental period
clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning
disturbances not better explained by other mental health problems, intellectual disability or global developmental delay

Question 18

what disorders are often co-morbid with ASD?

Answer 18

emotional disorders
neurodevelopmental disorders
learning disability
also medical conditions (fragile X, TS, seizures)

Question 19

what are the non-pharmacological management options in ASD?

Answer 19

self and family psychoeducation
applied behaviour analysis, speech and language therapy
family and school based support

Question 20

is there any medical intervention that treats core symptoms of autism?

Answer 20

no

resperidone licensed for management of severe aggression and self injury

co-morbidities will require treatment

Question 21

what co-morbid treatments may need to be given in ASD?

Answer 21

seizure disorder - antiepileptics
ADHD - stimulants or non stimulants
tic disorders - antipsychotics
severe autism with LD - mood stabilisers
social anxiety, mood or OCD - SSRIs or SNRIs
insomnia - melatonin

Question 22

emerging evidence suggests that what may be a blood-based biomarker of social functioning?

Answer 22

oxytocin

in theory, means a possible treatment