Johann Haffner

Fronto-temporal disconnectivity and symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Objectives. There is increasing evidence that many of the core behavioural impairments in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) emerge from disconnectivity of networks that are important for social communication. The present study aimed at investigating which specific fibre tracts are impaired in ASD and if possible alterations of white matter are associated with clinical symptomatology. Methods. Eighteen children with ASD and 18 carefully matched typically developing controls aged 6–12 years were examined using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were correlated with symptom severity as indexed by the childrens scores on the Autisms Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Results. Decreased FA values were identified for the fornix (FO), the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) the corpus callosum and the uncinate fasciculus (UF) in the ASD group compared to controls, with most prominent differences in the UF bilaterally and the right SLF. FA values of affected fibre tracts were negatively associated with clinical measures of autistic symptomatology. We did not observe significantly altered grey or white matter concentration after correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusion. Our findings support the hypothesis of abnormal white matter microstructure of fronto-temporal cortical networks in ASD, which are associated with core symptoms of the disorder.

Explaining gender differences in non-fatal suicidal behaviour among adolescents: a population-based study

BackgroundWhile suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in most industrial countries, non-fatal suicidal behaviour is also a very important public health concern among adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in prevalence and emotional and behavioural correlates of suicidal behaviour in a representative school-based sample of adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used to assess suicidal behaviour and various areas of emotional and behavioural problems by using a self-report booklet including the Youth Self-Report. One hundred sixteen schools in a region of Southern Germany agreed to participate. A representative sample of 5,512 ninth-grade students was studied. Mean age was 14.8 years (SD 0.73); 49.8% were female.ResultsSerious suicidal thoughts were reported by 19.8% of the female students and 10.8% of the females had ever attempted suicide. In the male group, 9.3% had a history of suicidal thoughts and 4.9% had previously attempted suicide. Internalizing emotional and behavioural problems were shown to be higher in the female group (difference of the group means 4.41) while externalizing emotional and behavioural problems slightly predominated in male students (difference of the group means -0.65). However, the total rate of emotional and behavioural problems was significantly higher in the adolescent female group (difference of the group means 4.98). Using logistic regression models with suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide as dependent variables, the pseudo-R2 of gender alone was only 2.7% or 2.3%, while it was 30% or 23.2% for emotional and behavioural problems measured by the YSR syndrome scales. By adding gender to the emotional and behavioural problems only an additional 0.3% of information could be explained.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that gender differences in non-fatal suicidal behaviour among adolescents can to a large extent be explained by the gender differences in emotional and behavioural problems during this age.

Zur Wirksamkeit körperorientierter Therapieverfahren bei der Behandlung hyperaktiver Störungen: Ergebnisse einer kontrollierten Pilotstudie

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Zur Effektivitat korperorientierter Therapieverfahren bei hyperkinetischen Storungen liegen bisher kaum methodisch gut kontrollierte Studien vor. Ziel der Arbeit war die Prufung der differentiellen Wirksamkeit eines an kindliche Bedurfnisse angepassten Yoga Trainings im Vergleich zu einem herkommlichen Bewegungstraining. Methodik: Bei 19 Kindern mit klinischer Diagnose einer hyperkinetischen Storung (nach ICD-10) wurden nach randomisierter Gruppenzuordnung im 2×2 cross-over Design die Trainingseffekte (Yoga vs. Bewegungstraining) anhand von Varianzanalysen mit Messwiederholung gepruft. Ergebnisse: Es zeigte sich eine deutliche Uberlegenheit des Yoga Trainings sowohl hinsichtlich der Verbesserungen der Testleitungen im Dortmunder Aufmerksamkeitstest (DAT) als auch bei der Reduktion der hyperkinetischen Symptomatik im standardisiert erhobenen Elternurteil mit Effektstarken (ES) im mittleren bis hohen Bereich (ES = 0.60-0.97). Bei Trainingsende lagen die Gruppenmittelwerte im ...

Does successful training of temporal processing of sound and phoneme stimuli improve reading and spelling

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to measure and train auditory temporal processing in children with dyslexia and to examine whether there was a transfer of improved auditory temporal processing to reading and spelling skills.MethodsComputer-based procedures to measure and train temporal processing of sound and phoneme stimuli were developed. Test-scores for a normal control group consisting of 8-year-olds were established. Second graders with dyslexia were included in the training condition and divided into three groups: a control group, a group specifically trained in sound processing, and a third group specifically trained in phoneme processing. After an initial diagnostic procedure, both training groups received specific training every day for 4 weeks. All children, regardless of the group, received the same standard reading training programme designed for children with dyslexia at school. Outcome measures were assessed immediately after training as well as 6 and 12 months later.ResultsTests for temporal processing of sound and phoneme stimuli proved to be highly reliable. Children with dyslexia (N=44) showed impaired auditory processing of sound and phoneme stimuli compared to normal controls (N=51). There was a specific significant improvement in sound, respectively phoneme, processing for the training groups immediately after the end of training. The improvement of phoneme processing remained stable after 6 months and as a trend after 12 months. After 6 and 12 months of training, children of all three groups improved significantly in reading no matter what group. In spelling, the sound training group had a slight advantage after 6 months, which was not stable after 12 months.ConclusionsAuditory temporal processing could be trained effectively at the sound and phoneme levels. However, no significant stable transfer of these improved abilities on reading and spelling exceeding the effect of the school-based standard training was demonstrated.

Infant predictors of behavioural inhibition

Behavioural inhibition in the second year of life is a hypothesized predictor for shyness, social anxiety and depression in later childhood, adolescence and even adulthood. To search for the earliest indicators of this fundamental temperamental trait, this study examined whether behavioural characteristics in early infancy can predict behavioural inhibition, as previously postulated. The results show that infant crying to unfamiliar stimuli at 4 months of age is a significant predictor (p = .002) of behavioural inhibition in the second year of life. These data implicate the possibility of measuring a temperamental anxiety disposition at a very young age simply by assessing crying in the face of novel stimuli.

Testkonstruktion, -analyse und Erprobung des Heidelberger Lautdifferenzierungstests zur auditiv-kinästhetischen Wahrnehmungstrennschärfe (HD-LT)

Zusammenfassung: Gegenstand der vorliegenden Studie ist die Darstellung eines neu entwickelten, computergestutzten Testverfahrens im Rahmen der Legastheniediagnostik (der Heidelberger Lautdifferenz...

Temperaments- und Charaktermerkmale jugendlicher Patientinnen mit Anorexia und Bulimia Nervosa

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Bei erwachsenen Patientinnen wurden auf der Grundlage des Personlichkeitsmodells von Robert C. Cloninger konsistente Unterschiede zwischen Anorexia und Bulimia nervosa sowie im Vergleich zu gesunden Populationen gefunden. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde untersucht , ob sich ahnliche Unterschiede bereits bei jugendlichen essgestorten Patientinnen mit kurzer Krankheitsdauer finden lassen. Methodik: 73 konsekutiv erfasste Patientinnen mit Essstorungen im Alter zwischen 12 und 18 Jahren wurden untersucht. Die deutsche Version des Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI 12-18) wurde Patientinnen mit den Diagnosen Anorexia nervosa vom restriktiven Typus (AN-R, n = 29), Anorexia nervosa vom bulimischen Typus (AN-B, n = 16) und Bulimia nervosa (BN, n = 28) vorgelegt. Ergebnisse: Unterschiede in den Temperamentsfaktoren waren am ausgepragtesten zwischen Patientinnen mit einer AN-R im Vergleich zu Patientinnen mit einer BN, wahrend Patientinnen mit einer AN-B ein zwischen d...

Reliabilität, Trainierbarkeit und Stabilität auditiv diskriminativer Leistungen bei zwei computergestützten Mess- und Trainingsverfahren

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Bei der vorliegenden Studie standen die Fragen nach der Trainierbarkeit auditiver Diskriminationsleistungen und ihr Zusammenhang mit der Lese- und Rechtschreibleistung im Mittelpunkt. Methodik: Computerverfahren zur Ton- und Phonemdiskrimination wurden entwickelt und in einer Vorstudie bei N = 63 Kindern der Zusammenhang zwischen den auditiven Diskriminationsleistungen und der Lese- und Rechtschreibleistung gepruft. In einer prospektiven Studie wurden anschliesend 44 Kinder in drei nach Lese-Rechtschreibleistung parallelisierte Gruppen aufgeteilt: Eine Ton-, eine Phonemdiskriminations- und eine Kontrollgruppe. Nach der Eingangsdiagnostik erfolgte fur die beiden ersten Gruppen ein vierwochiges Diskriminationstraining, unmittelbar nach Trainingsende schloss sich fur alle drei Gruppen die erste Nachtestphase an. Alle Kinder erhielten parallel ein spezifisches Lese- und Rechtschreibtraining innerhalb der Schule. Nach einem halben Jahr erfolgte eine weitere Testwiederholung. Erg...

Der Mottier-Test als computergestütztes Screeningverfahren bei der Legastheniediagnostik

Zusammenfassung: Fur den Mottier-Test, der zur Uberprufung der Lautdifferenzierungsfahigkeit und auditiven Merkfahigkeit dient, liegen bisher keine Angaben zu Gutekriterien vor und es wurden nur Grobnormen berechnet. In der vorliegenden Studie an 272 Kindern (133 Zweit- und 139 Viertklasler) sollte eine Normverschiebung uberpruft, Test- und Aufgabenkennwerte, Gutekriterien und Prozentrangnormen berechnet und eine Erprobung des Mottier-Tests in der Legastheniediagnostik vorgenommen werden. Die Vorgabe des Verfahrens erfolgte uber die Sprachkarte eines PCs. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, das eine Normverschiebung stattgefunden hat. Dies wird u.a. dadurch erklart, das der Test durch die Darbietung uber PC schwieriger geworden ist. Der Mottier-Test ist fur Zweitklasler schwieriger zu losen als fur Viertklasler. Die Gutekriterien fallen fur beide Klassenstufen zufriedenstellend aus. Die Ergebnisse zum Zusammenhang zwischen dem Mottier-Test und der Rechtschreibleistung zeigen eine hohere Korrelation in der 2. als in...

Reduced cortical thickness and its association with social reactivity in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Symptomatology and behavioral characteristics in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have increasingly been linked to abnormalities in early brain growth patterns of affected children. Studies investigating specific components of gray matter structure, such as cortical thickness (CT), have produced conflicting results, and have rarely included additional measures of social impairment. In the present study, we applied a surface-based whole brain analysis to investigate CT in a sample of 36 pre-adolescent children [18 subjects with ASD (IQ mean: 111) and 18 healthy controls (IQ mean: 112.8), age range 6-12 years]. The CT analysis revealed widespread, but mostly left-hemispheric thinning in frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital brain areas related to the theory-of-mind network and the heteromodal association cortex. In an exploratory analysis, CT was observed to be differently associated with social impairment in children with ASD compared with typically developing children. The affected neuroanatomical regions are related to characteristic deficits in language, cognition and behavior that are often observed in the disorder. The relationship between social impairment and CT in children with ASD and controls seems to indicate aberrant developmental trajectories in ASD emerging early in life.