Bárbara Backes

Identificação dos primeiros sintomas do autismo pelos pais

The occurrence of problems related to social development is the best predictors of a future diagnosis of an Autistic Disorder. Speech delay, however, seems to be the main that reason that leads parents to seek assistance. The present study aimed to investigate the first symptoms observed by the parents of children with autism and the age that it occurred. Thirty-two preschool children participated in the study. The instrument used was the Autism Diagnostic Interviwed-Revised. Abnormalities in language development were the most frequent symptoms reported by the parents, but social impairment was the earliest that was noticed. The average age when the parents noticed the first symptoms was 15.2 months. The results corroborate other findings, highlighting the importance of social deficits for the early identification of autism.

Improvement in Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children With the Use of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide: An Open Trial.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. MethodsThis is a prospective, open-label study with 160 pmol/kg of GRP tested in 10 children with autism. Outcome measures used were the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale, Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. Positive response was defined as a score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale and an improvement of 25% or greater on at least 1 subscale of ABC. ResultsSix (60%) of the 10 subjects responded to GRP. Improvements were observed on the ABC irritability and hyperactivity subscales in 80% of patients, and 70% exhibited improvement on the social withdrawal subscale. On the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, there was a mean reduction of 4 points (4.3 ± 2.9). Analysis of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised results detected significant improvements in the domain that assesses social interaction, with a mean reduction of 2.4 points (2.4 ± 2.83). Adverse effects occurred in 3 patients. ConclusionsGastrin-releasing peptide was safe and well tolerated by most subjects and may be effective for core symptoms of autism.

Psychometric properties of assessment instruments for autism spectrum disorder : a systematic review of Brazilian studies

Objetivo Revisar sistematicamente a literatura cientifica acerca das propriedades psicometricas de instrumentos internacionais para a avaliacao do transtorno do espectro do autismo (TEA) na populacao brasileira. Metodos Realizou-se uma busca de referencias bibliograficas em seis bases de dados: PsycINFO, PubMed, IndexPsi, Lilacs, Capes (teses e dissertacoes) e SciELO, sendo a selecao dos estudos realizada por dois pesquisadores independentes. Resultados O procedimento resultou em 11 estudos que abarcaram seis instrumentos de avaliacao do TEA na populacao brasileira. Dadas as informacoes fornecidas, a adaptacao do M-CHAT, um instrumento de rastreamento, foi a melhor realizada. Todas as etapas do processo de adaptacao foram descritas e as alteracoes feitas para a versao final do instrumento foram apresentadas, o que nao foi explicitado em outros estudos. Em termos de fidedignidade, todos os instrumentos que avaliaram a consistencia interna apresentaram valores adequados. A ADI-R e a CARS tambem contemplaram satisfatoriamente a fidedignidade entre avaliadores e os indices de teste-reteste, respectivamente. Finalmente, todos os estudos que objetivaram a validacao de instrumentos apresentaram evidencias de validade e sensibilidade, e valores de especificidade acima de 0,90 foram observados no ASQ, ADI-R e ABC. Conclusao Considerando-se os aspectos psicometricos e de direitos autorais, o instrumento de rastreamento atualmente mais adequado para uso clinico e em pesquisa e o M-CHAT. Observou-se, contudo, que ainda nao ha um instrumento de diagnostico especifico para o TEA disponivel para uso no Brasil. Essa lacuna consiste em uma situacao critica para o aprimoramento da pratica clinica e da pesquisa na area do TEA.

A relação entre regressão da linguagem e desenvolvimento sociocomunicativo de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between language regression and the subsequent social-communicative development of preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). METHODS Thirty children with ASD participated in the study and were divided into two groups: with (n=6) and without (n=24) language regression. Language regression was assessed by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and the social-communicative development was measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. RESULTS Of the 30 children who met the criteria for participation in this study, six (20%) had regression of oral language skills, with a mean age of onset of 25 months. There were no statistical significant differences in the social-communicative development between the groups with and without language regression. CONCLUSION The findings of this research do not seem to confirm the relationship between the occurrence of language regression and the subsequent impairment on social-communicative development of children with ASD.