June Groden

Cardiovascular Arousal in Individuals With Autism

Despite the hypothesized link betWeen arousal and behavior in persons With autism, there is a lack of idiographic research that directly assesses arousal responses to novel stimuli or social situations in this population. The current study used heart rate as a measure of sympathetic activity to compare arousal responses to the presentation of potentially stressful situations in five persons With autism and five age- and sex-matched typically developing individuals. Findings revealed that the group With autism shoWed significant responses to stressors only 22% of the time compared to the typically developing group, Which shoWed significant responses 60% of the time. Interpretation of these results and methodological considerations for future research on arousal in persons With autism are discussed.

The development of a stress survey schedule for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The Stress Survey Schedule is an instrument for measuring stress in the lives of persons with autism and other developmental disabilities. Development of the survey and analysis of the underlying measurement structure of the instrument is reported in three studies. Through the use of exploratory and confirmatory analysis procedures, eight dimensions of stress were identified: Anticipation/Uncertainty, Changes and Threats, Unpleasant Events, Pleasant Events, Sensory/Personal Contact, Food Related Activity, Social/Environmental Interactions, and Ritual Related Stress. These stress dimensions are highly relevant to the problems of autism and have not been addressed by other stress surveys. The information obtained from the Stress Survey can be used to plan for strategies to reduce the stress before it occurs or results in maladaptive behavior.

The Impact of Stress and Anxiety on Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Stress and anxiety have historically played a role in many theories of personality and behavior. Both psychoanalytic theorists and behaviorists have postulated that anxiety is the central component of neurotic disorders. Operant investigators, however, have been reluctant to use the concept of anxiety either as an explanatory concept or in a descriptive manner.

Assessing Cardiovascular Responses to Stressors in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Characteristics of persons With autism and other developmental disabilities may make this population especially vulnerable to the effects of stress. Prior research on stress and its measurement in this population is revieWed. Using a single-case multielement design, this study explores the feasibility of measuring cardiovascular responses to four stressors in 10 individuals (age 13 to 37 years) With autism and other developmental disabilities. Results suggest that assessing cardiovascular responses is a viable procedure for identifying individual differences in reactivity to specific environmental stressors. Implications of this research and future directions for assessment are discussed.

Brief Report: Validating the Stress Survey Schedule for Persons With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities

It has been suggested that individuals With autism are more vulnerable to, and less able to cope With, the effects of stressors than the general population. HoWever, very little Work has been done to develop tools such as surveys or questionnaires that assess reactions to stressors in individuals With developmental disabilities. In the present investigation, the Stress Survey Schedule for Persons With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (SSS; Groden et al., 2001) Was completed for 180 individuals With autism, varying in gender, verbal ability, and age. The results demonstrate that the SSS is a valid tool for identifying Which dimensions of stress are perceived to be the most and least stressful for subgroups of persons With autism.

A placebo double-blind pilot study of dextromethorphan for problematic behaviors in children with autism

We used a mixed group/single-case, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ABAB design to examine the safety and efficacy of the glutamate antagonist dextromethorphan for the treatment of problematic behaviors and core symptoms in eight children diagnosed with autism. All participants had increased levels of irritability at baseline as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, and demonstrated a wide variety of problematic behaviors. Group analyses revealed that dextromethorphan was equivalent to placebo in the treatment of problem behaviors and core symptoms. Analyses at the single-subject level demonstrated that three of the eight participants who had a behavioral profile consistent with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder responded positively to dextromethorphan. Future research that employs a larger, more homogeneous sample is necessary to replicate the findings from this study.

The nature and prevalence of fears in developmentally disabled children and adolescents: A preliminary investigation

While there has been substantial research on fears in normal children, little is known about fears in developmentally disabled children and adolescents. The present study examined the prevalence and nature of fear among 28 developmentally disabled children and adolescents receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment services. Self-report data, obtained through spontaneous recall of fears and administration of the Revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children, revealed that although fear prevalence was higher, the overall intensity of fear and the most prominent fears reported by the sample were similar to normative data derived from developmentally intact children and adolescents. Caretaker ratings of prevalence and overall intensity of fear were significantly lower than childrens self-report. Results suggest that the nature of fear in developmentally disabled children and adolescents is relatively consistent with that of developmentally intact youth.

Effects of fenfluramine on the behavior of autistic individuals

The present report, part of a national, multicenter study to investigate the effects of fenfluramine on autistic behavior, describes findings on four autistic children ranging in age from 7 to 20 years. Additional performance and parental observation measures apart from those of the multicenter study are included. Results of this study which indicated no significant side effects, a reduction in some deviant behaviors and an improvement in activity level/attention span, provide support for earlier reports. The possibility that fenfluramines apparently positive effects might be to simply reduce inappropriate behaviors via lethargy was examined and not supported.

Use of Imagery Procedures with Students Labeled ‘Trainable Retarded’:

Two experiments are described in which covert-conditioning procedures were modified for use with two students enrolled in a class for “trainable retarded” within the public school system. This seems to be the first reported use of covert procedures with this population. The design, which used a multiple baseline across behaviors, was utilized to study the effect of covert procedures on inappropriate motor behaviors. The design included phases in which strong requests to change behavior controlled the influence of demand. The request phase produced no consistent change in the rates of behavior, however, covert procedures did prove effective. Results suggest that both covert reinforcement and covert modeling techniques can be utilized effectively with retarded individuals in a school environment. This can be used to advantage in mainstreaming and integrating children with special needs.

Sensor-enabled detection of stereotypical motor movements in persons with autism spectrum disorder

Stereotypical motor movements are one of the most common and least understood behaviors occurring in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Problems with traditional methods for measuring movement stereotypy make it difficult to accurately determine when and why these behaviors occur. The current research overcomes previous measurement problems by utilizing wireless accelerometers and pattern recognition software to automatically and reliably detect stereotypical motor movements such as body rocking and hand flapping in children with ASD.