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Research

Genetic counseling as preventive intervention: toward individual specification of transgenerational autism risk

Although autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most heritable of all neuropsychiatric syndromes, most affected children are born to unaffected parents. Recently, we reported an average increase of 3-5% over general population risk of ASD among offspring of adults who have first-degree relatives with ASD in a large epidemiologic family sample.

Research

The effect of functioning on Quality of Life Inventory-Disability measured quality of life is not mediated or moderated by parental psychological distress

The measurement of quality of life (QOL) in children with intellectual disability often relies upon proxy report via caregivers. The current study investigated whether caregiver psychological distress mediates or moderates the effects of impairment on their ratings of QOL in children with intellectual disability.

Research

Randomised Controlled Trial of a Therapeutic Playgroup for Children with Developmental Delays

A single-blind randomised control trial investigated the effectiveness of the Learn, Engage and Play (LEaP) playgroup. Seventy-one children with developmental delay were randomly allocated to an 8-week LEaP playgroup or control group and followed up at 12 and 28 weeks.

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Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes

Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.

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Pre-emptive intervention versus treatment as usual for infants showing early behavioural risk signs of autism spectrum disorder

A pre-emptive intervention for the autism spectrum disorder prodrome had no immediate treatment effect on early autism spectrum disorder symptoms

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Apgar score and risk of autism

This study suggests that low Apgar score is associated with higher risk of autism spectrum disorder, and in particular autistic disorder

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Vitamin D is crucial for maternal care and offspring social behaviour in rats

These data highlight that early life levels of vitamin D are an important consideration for maternal behavioural adaptations as well as offspring neuropsychiatry

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Cytokine levels and associations with symptom severity in male and female children with autism spectrum disorder

ASD's are complex, pervasive and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions with varying conditions, trajectories, significant male bias and unknown etiology.

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Autism risk associated with parental age and with increasing difference in age between the parents

Increases in ASD was not only limited to advancing paternal or maternal age alone but also to differences parental age including younger or older similarly age

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Population-based prevalence of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders in Western Australia

The prevalence of intellectual disability has risen in WA over the last 10 years with most of this increase due to mild or moderate intellectual disability