Mandy Roy

Is synesthesia more common in patients with Asperger syndrome

There is increasing evidence from case reports that synesthesia is more common in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Further, genes related to synesthesia have also been found to be linked to ASC and, similar to synaesthetes, individuals with ASC show altered brain connectivity and unusual brain activation during sensory processing. However, up to now a systematic investigation of whether synesthesia is more common in ASC patients is missing. The aim of the current pilot study was to test this hypothesis by investigating a group of patients diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS) using questionnaires and standard consistency tests in order to classify them as grapheme-color synaesthetes. The results indicate that there are indeed many more grapheme-color synaesthetes among AS patients. This finding is discussed in relation to different theories regarding the development of synesthesia as well as altered sensory processing in autism.

Association Between Restless Legs Syndrome and Adult ADHD in a German Community-Based Sample.

Objective: Previous research in clinical samples indicated a significant association between ADHD and restless legs syndrome (RLS). The present study examined the association between adult ADHD and RLS in the German population. Method: Self-rating instruments to assess RLS, childhood ADHD, and adult ADHD were administered to a community-based sample (N = 1,632). In addition, current depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, weight, and height were assessed by self-report. Results: Adult ADHD was associated with statistically significant increases in the odds of meeting diagnostic criteria for RLS even when adjusting for potential confounding variables such as weight (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.29, 7.63], p< .001). However, the association did not hold true after adjusting for the presence of sleep disturbances (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = [0.82, 4.96], p = .13). Conclusion: The findings suggest a strong link between RLS and adult ADHD symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of RLS among adult ADHD patients, especially as there might be a negative interactive effect.

Effective Methylphenidate Treatment of an Adult Aspergers Syndrome and a Comorbid ADHD: A Clinical Investigation with fMRI.

Objective: Aspergers Syndrome can present as comorbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Very few cases of the assessment and treatment of this comorbidity in adulthood are described in the research literature. Method: A 26-year-old patient as suffering from ADHD in combination with Aspergers Syndrome is diagnosed. Treatment is started with methylphenidate (MPH), and the patients clinical response is observed, psychological tests concerning attention are analyzed, and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examination is performed during an attention-task. Results: On the functional magnetic resonance imaging, a reduction of cerebral activity bilaterally in the parietal lobe under the influence of MPH is detected. Conclusion: Besides the neurophysiological findings, this case reports the complex impairment caused by the combination of AD/HD with Aspergers Syndrome and the broad social and behavioral benefits of treatment with MPH for this comorbidity. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 12(4) 381-385

Enlarged temporal integration window in schizophrenia indicated by the double-flash illusion

ABSTRACT Introduction: In the present study we were interested in the processing of audio-visual integration in schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. The amount of sound-induced double-flash illusions served as an indicator of audio-visual integration. We expected an altered integration as well as a different window of temporal integration for patients. Methods: Fifteen schizophrenia patients and 15 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender were included in this study. We used stimuli with eight different temporal delays (stimulus onset asynchronys (SOAs) 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200 and 300 ms) to induce a double-flash illusion. Group differences and the widths of temporal integration windows were calculated on percentages of reported double-flash illusions. Results: Patients showed significantly more illusions (ca. 36–44% vs. 9–16% in control subjects) for SOAs 150–300. The temporal integration window for control participants went from SOAs 25 to 200 whereas for patients integration was found across all included temporal delays. We found no significant relationship between the amount of illusions and either illness severity, chlorpromazine equivalent doses or duration of illness in patients. Conclusions: Our results are interpreted in favour of an enlarged temporal integration window for audio-visual stimuli in schizophrenia patients, which is consistent with previous research.

NCAM2 deletion in a boy with macrocephaly and autism: Cause, association or predisposition?

UNLABELLED We report on an 8-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), speech delay, behavioural problems, disturbed sleep and macrosomia including macrocephaly carrying a microdeletion that contains the entire NCAM2 gene and no other functional genes. Other family members with the microdeletion show a large skull circumference but do not exhibit any symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Among many ASD-candidate genes, NCAM2 has been assumed to play a pivotal role in the development of ASD because of its function in the outgrowth and bundling of neurites. Our reported case raises the questions whether the NCAM2-deletion is the true cause of the ASD or only a risk factor and whether there might be any connection in NCAM2 with skull-size KEY WORDS autism spectrum disorder, macrocephaly, neural cell adhesion molecule 2 protein (NCAM2), array comparative genomic hybridization (microarray).

Alcohol and drug dependence in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: data from Germany

Background and Objectives: The objective of the present study was to obtain information about the prevalence of addiction disorders in ADHD patients in a German study population, to compare the prevalence of addiction disorders in ADHD patients to that in the normal population according to the German Epidemiological Addiction Survey, and to determine which drugs are consumed most by ADHD patients. Participants: The sample consisted of 61 patients (average age 35.11 ± 9.33 years) from our ADHD consultation who were consecutively included in our study over a period of 12 months. Measurements: We diagnosed ADHD according to DSM-IV-R and by assessing the WURS-k, CAARS and BROWN ADD scales. For diagnosing addiction we conducted the EuropASI, the IDCL, the QOD and the FTNA. For differential diagnosis we assessed the SCL-K. Results: About half of our study population of ADHD patients were diagnosed with a dependence disorder (50.8%, n = 31). Twenty one dot three percent (n = 13) were suffering from an alcohol dependence, 13.1% (n = 8) from a substance use disorder (SUD) and 18% (n = 11) from a combination of both addictions. The drug consumed most commonly by ADHD paALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCE IN ADULTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT... 151

Quality of life in autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Background: It is well known that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show impairments in areas such as social interaction and flexibility and often are without employment and partnership. But

Asperger syndrome and partnership

Abstract Background: Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a kind of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is characterized by patterns of repetitive behavior, special interests and difficulties in social interaction. Especially

In the eye of the beholder-rating of facial attractiveness in adult asperger syndrome

Abstract Background: Sense of facial attractiveness seems to be uniform within a particular culture and between different cultures in non-autistic persons. Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder have a different

Skorbut — eine zu Unrecht vergessene Hypovitaminose

We treated a chronic alcoholic patient who showed all the symptoms of scurvy (petechiae, greyish skin colour, areas of thinning hair on the head, gingivitis, elevated liver enzyme levels, hyponatraemia, hypalbuminaemia and hypothyroidism) at admission. Even today, alcoholics and chronically ill people in particular can develop symptoms of diet-related vitamin C deficiency.ZusammenfassungDen alkoholabhängigen Patienten führte ein dringender Entzugswunsch in die Notaufnahme. Sein körperlicher Zustand war deutlich reduziert. Die Symptomkonstellation Petechien, Gingivitis und gelichtete Haarareale ließ jedoch noch ein anderes Problem vermuten: Skorbut. Nach erfolgreicher Primärtherapie stellten die rasch progredienten Unterschenkelödeme die Behandler erneut vor ein Rätsel …