Tag: Autism

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Auditory processing and communication in autism: exploring verbal abilities and vocal affective cues

This study examined the role of auditory processing in autism spectrum disorder, focusing on its association with verbal and non-verbal vocal communication skills in children and adolescents. A total of 97 English-speaking autistic participants (ages 7.9–17.4 years, mean = 12.3) and 44 neurotypical peers (ages 8.4-16.8, mean= 12.3) completed assessments of auditory processing and communication skills. We analyzed the relationships between scores on the SCAN-3 Tests for Auditory Processing Disorders time-compressed sentences, auditory figure-ground (+ 8dB), gap detection, and competing words-free recall subtests, the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fifth Edition (CELF-5) expressive and receptive language indices, the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-3rd Edition (GFTA-3) Sounds-In-Words subtest, and the Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy-2nd Edition (DANVA-2) paralanguage subtests. Measures of auditory processing were associated with both verbal and non-verbal communication skills in the autistic participants. Specifically, we found that SCAN-3 time-compressed sentence and gap detection scores were associated with expressive and receptive language skills, receptive vocabulary scores, and ability to recognize vocal emotional cues. Gap detection abilities additionally correlated positively with expressive and receptive language skills, while auditory figure-ground task performance was related to articulation. In conclusion, this study suggests specific aspects of auditory processing may be important for development of specific aspects of auditory communication skills in children on the spectrum. Specifically, spectral aspects of auditory processing abilities were associated with articulation accuracy whereas temporal components of auditory processing may impact broader verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these associations and potential directions of causality to inform development of interventions that target auditory processing and auditory communication skills in ASD.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Neurodevelopmental Disorder With Issues Social Behavior, Communication Issues, GI Dysfunction. Study is Multimodal Interventions Targeting These Pathways With cSVF, Stored MSCs, FMT and Diet Modification. Role of Autoimmunity, Gut-brain Issues, & Issues Examined.

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autism

Interventions: Procedure: Autologous MSC isolation, concentration, and cryopreservation of adult mesenchymal stem cells; Dietary Supplement: Fecal Biomicrome Transplantation (FMT); Dietary Supplement: Ketogenic RESET Diet Protocol; Behavioral: Trial combines use of cSVF and MSCs (cryopres) with diet modification and FMT (fecal material Transplant in adult ASD patients; Dietary Supplement: FMT (Fecal Material Tranplantation); Biological: Use autologous cSVF + MSCs (cryo) for management of autoimmune component, anti-inflammatory and immune modulation

Sponsors: Black Tie Medical, Inc.

Enrolling by invitation
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Group CBT targeting hostile attribution bias in adolescents and young adults with ASD traits

BackgroundAdolescence is characterized by heightened self-consciousness and sensitivity to social evaluations. During this period, hostile attribution bias—interpreting ambiguous social cues as hostile—can lower quality of life (QOL) and contribute to future mental health problems. Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show similar difficulties, often more pronounced due to their cognitive style and interpersonal vulnerabilities. Group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to correct such biases through structured cognitive and social experiences. This study evaluated the psychological effects of group CBT on hostile attribution bias, social functioning, and QOL in adolescents and young adults with ASD traits.MethodsWe conducted an 8-session group CBT program focusing on hostile attribution bias and suspiciousness in 21 adolescents and young adults with ASD traits attending a hospital psychiatric outpatient department. The 15 participants who completed the program were included in analyzes. Psychological indices included hostile attribution bias (Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire), social functioning (Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition [SRS-2]), and subjective QOL. Pre–post changes were quantified as change rates ((post − pre)/pre × 100). Group-level changes were tested with paired analyzes; exploratory associations among change rates were examined using Spearman correlations.ResultsGroup CBT significantly improved hostile attribution bias (effect size [ES] = 0.698, p = 0.017), social communication and interaction (SRS-2; ES = 0.780, p = 0.012), and subjective QOL (ES = 0.752, p = 0.011). Exploratory individual-level analyzes showed a discordant pattern: smaller reductions in hostile attribution bias (less negative change rates) were associated with greater increases in subjective QOL (ρ = 0.597, p = 0.019).ConclusionsThis pilot study suggests that group CBT may reduce hostile attribution bias and improve QOL and social functioning in adolescents and young adults with ASD traits. Notably, the positive correlation between hostile attribution bias change rates and QOL change rates suggests that greater QOL gains were not necessarily accompanied by larger reductions in hostile attribution bias, indicating that improvements in cognitive bias and perceived well-being may arise through partly distinct or non-linear pathways rather than a simple one-to-one relationship.Clinical trial registryUniversity Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000030140).
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Iron dyshomeostasis in neuropsychiatric disorders

Iron is an indispensable element for the normal physiological function of the brain. In terms of neuronal metabolism, iron is involved in multiple critical biological processes such as oxygen transport, energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, neurotransmitter synthesis and myelin formation. Maintaining brain iron homeostasis is crucial for neurodevelopment and function. Iron dyshomeostasis has been associated with the onset and progression of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, abnormally elevated iron levels can be detected in specific brain regions, including the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex. These changes are often accompanied by pathological processes such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and pathological protein aggregation. Therefore, brain iron metabolism is an important entry point for understanding the pathophysiological process of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mechanistically, iron overload induces oxidative damage through the Fenton reaction, exacerbating mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormal protein aggregation. The effects of iron deficiency vary across different diseases; its impact on myelination and neurotransmitter synthesis may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while its effects on immune activation and energy metabolism may contribute to the development of mental disorders such as depression. This article systematically reviews the current research progress of the role of cerebral iron metabolism in neuropsychiatric diseases. It focuses on the mechanisms underlying iron homeostasis imbalances in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Building on this foundation, the article analyzes the therapeutic targets and clinical significance of iron metabolism-related interventions and outlines future research directions in this field.
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[Comment] Assessing adolescents’ use of artificial intelligence in psychiatric practice

In a recent clinical encounter with one of the authors (AP), a young boy with autism insisted that his mother hated him—because ChatGPT said so. After asking whether a parent who sets limits must dislike their child, he interpreted the bot’s confident, literal response as truth. By the time the boy arrived at the clinic, this exchange had already reshaped his affect, relationships, and risk. Encounters like this are increasingly common, and many adolescents now present with beliefs—and sometimes safety concerns—influenced by generative artificial intelligence (AI).