Evert Scholte

Theory of Mind in Adults with HFA and Asperger Syndrome

Theory of mind was assessed in 32 adults with HFA, 29 adults with Asperger syndrome and 32 neurotypical adults. The HFA and Asperger syndrome groups were impaired in performance of the Strange stories test and the Faux-pas test and reported more theory of mind problems than the neurotypical adults. The three groups did not differ in performance of the Eyes test. Furthermore, correlations between the Eyes test and the three other theory of mind tests were low or absent. Therefore one can question the ability of the Eyes test to measure theory of mind. Of all theory of mind tests used, the self-report questionnaire had the largest discriminating power in differentiating the two disorder groups from the neurotypical group.

Brief Report: The Use of WAIS-III in Adults with HFA and Asperger Syndrome

The WAIS III was administered to 16 adults with high functioning autism (HFA) and 27 adults with Asperger syndrome. Differences between Verbal Intelligence (VIQ) and Performance Intelligence (PIQ) were not found. Processing Speed problems in people with HFA appeared. At the subtest level, the Asperger syndrome group performed weak on Digit Span. Comprehension and Block Design were relative strengths. In the HFA group, performance on Digit-Symbol Coding and Symbol Search was relatively poor. Strengths were found on Information and Matrix Reasoning. The results suggest that the VIQ-PIQ difference cannot distinguish between HFA and Asperger syndrome. WAIS III Factor Scale and Subtest patterning provides a more valid indicator.

Measuring psychopathic traits in children through self-report: The development of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory - Child version

The current article investigates whether self-reports of children provide reliable and valid information concerning psychopathic personality traits and behaviours. For this purpose, we developed a downward extension of an existing adolescent self-report measure; the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory [YPI; Andershed, H., Kerr, M., Stattin, H., & Levander, S. (2002). Psychopathic traits in non-referred youths: Initial test of a new assessment tool. In E.S. Blaauw, L. (Ed.), Psychopaths: Current international perspectives (pp. 131-158): The Hague: Elsevier], called the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory-Child Version (YPI-CV). The reliability and validity of the YPI-CV were tested in n=360 children from the general population. The YPI-CV had good internal consistency and a three factor structure similar to the original adolescent version. Test-retest reliability over a 6-month period was adequate. In validating the instrument, both self, teacher and peer report were used. The convergent and divergent validity of the three YPI-CV dimensions was examined by relating each of them to an external criterion measures assessing the same construct. It was concluded that psychopathic traits can be measured reliably and meaningfully through self-report in 9 to 12 year olds and that the YPI-CV is potentially a useful instrument for doing so.

Patterns of intellectual, adaptive and behavioral functioning in individuals with mild mental retardation

Many researchers have studied the population of individuals with mild mental retardation (MIMR) as if it is a clear entity. Few researchers have investigated potential subtypes within the MIMR population. The purpose of the present study was to investigate which subtypes can be identified on the basis of intellectual, adaptive and behavioral functioning. Seventy-three individuals with MIMR were assessed on measures of intellectual, adaptive and behavioral functioning. An agglomerative hierarchical cluster-analytic technique was used to define potential subgroups with characteristic behavioral patterns. Four subtypes were identified. The behavioral patterns are described and implications for assessment are discussed.

Vineland Screener 0–12 years research version (NL). Constructing a screening instrument to assess adaptive behaviour

In Western countries the need to assess the adaptive behaviour of a wide range of individuals within the framework of research and policy‐making has increased in recent years. To meet this need a screener version of the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) was developed in the Netherlands. This screener is a questionnaire to be filled out by primary care‐givers. Using a limited number of items the instrument covers the four domains of adaptive behaviour portrayed in the original Expanded Version of the VABS.

Exploring Factors Governing Successful Residential Treatment of Youngsters with Serious Behavioural Difficulties: Findings from a Longitudinal Study in Holland.

Behavioural development in a random sample of 200 juveniles with serious behavioural difficulties admitted for residential treatment was monitored for a period of 2 years after their admission. By that time, 42 percent of the juveniles had left the treatment centre according to plan, 7 percent were still at the treatment centre and 51 percent had left prematurely. The juveniles who finished their treatment as planned had developed quite well. The psychosocial conditions of these youngsters were nearly identical to those of the general Dutch adolescent population of a comparable age and sociodemographic background. However, the youngsters who left prematurely had further developmental difficulties. Two years after their admission the number of juveniles reporting aggression and antisocial behaviour at a clinical level was as high as at the start of their residential treatment. An exploration of the residential treatment factors predicting successful development suggested that the provision of a basic therapeutic climate of firm, but not harsh, control coupled with consistent, but non-obtrusive, emotional support, cognitive-behavioural training, intensive monitoring of the treatment and home-orientedness were major factors promoting healthy development among the youngsters with behavioural difficulties.

Screening for cognitive impairment in older general hospital patients: comparison of the Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test with the Mini-Mental State Examination: 6CIT cognitive impairment test

To investigate the performance and usability of the Six‐Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6CIT) as a screening instrument for cognitive impairment in older, general hospital inpatients/outpatients.

Intentional communication in nonverbal and verbal low-functioning children with autism.

UNLABELLED In this study we characterized profiles of communicative functions and forms of children with autism and intellectual disability (n=26), as compared to typically developing children (n=26) with a comparable nonverbal mental age (2-5 years). Videotapes of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales - Developmental Profile were analyzed using a standardized observation scheme in which three main functions were distinguished: behavior regulation, social interaction, and joint attention. Different forms of communication were also investigated: gestures, vocalizations/verbalizations, and eye gaze. Results indicated that in typically developing children the proportion of communication for the purpose of joint attention was much higher than for behavior regulation, whereas in children with autism the opposite pattern was seen. Low-functioning nonverbal children with autism mainly communicated for behavior regulation and not or only rarely for declarative purposes. Generally, this subgroup used the least complex forms to communicate. Low-functioning verbal children with autism differed from typically developing children only in the rate, not in the proportion of communication for specific functions. Combinations of three different communicative forms were used by verbal children with autism less frequently than by typically developing children. LEARNING OUTCOMES After reading this paper, readers should be able to: (1) describe early development of communicative functions, (2) explain differences in communication profiles with respect to form and function between verbal and nonverbal low-functioning children with autism and typically developing children matched on nonverbal mental age and (3) discuss clinical implications of the findings for communication interventions in verbal and nonverbal low-functioning children with autism.

The development of adaptive skills in young people with Down syndrome

BACKGROUND To help children with Down syndrome reach optimum levels of adaptive behaviour, caretakers need to know how and to what extent children with Down syndrome acquire adaptive skills. METHOD The adaptive levels of motor, daily living, communicative and social behavioural skills were determined in a group of 984 Dutch children with Down syndrome, aged between 0 and 12 years, and compared with the adaptive levels of typically developing children using a Dutch version of the Vineland Screener. RESULTS Children with Down syndrome acquire their adaptive skills at a slower pace and reach their ceiling scores at about the age of 12 years, at a substantially lower level than a reference group of typically developing children. CONCLUSIONS Down children seem to acquire skills in a similar sequence and according to a similar trajectory. Development of adaptive skills varies greatly between participants with Down syndrome. For that reason, cohort studies on the development of individuals with Down syndrome over a prolonged period of time are needed.

Autistic disorder symptoms in Rett syndrome

According to the major classification systems it is not possible to diagnose a comorbid autistic disorder in persons with Rett syndrome. However, this is a controversial issue, and given the level of functioning of persons with Rett syndrome, the autistic disorder is expected to be present in a comparable proportion as in people with the same level of functioning. To investigate, parents of 52 females with classical and atypical Rett syndrome (2.4—49.3 years) completed the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC), the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) and the Dutch Vineland Screener 0—6 (VS 0—6). All participants had a severe to profound intellectual disability (ID) according to the VS 0—6. Behavior indicated an autistic disorder in 42 (DBC) to 58 percent (DISCO) of the Rett cases. Autistic behavior had decreased in 19 percent such that they no longer met the criteria for autistic disorder. Some participants were suspected of having a comorbid autistic disorder, though not more often than can be expected at their level of functioning. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of a comorbid autistic disorder as much as they should be in other people with this level of functioning.