Autism Spectrum Disorders

A better early blood test for autism: Genetic signatures point to disrupted neuro-immune pathways

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed a blood test for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) that outperforms existing genetic tests, while presenting evidence that abnormal ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 10, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Study finds association between oxygen deprivation before birth and ADHD

Children who had in-utero exposure to ischemic-hypoxic conditions, situations during which the brain is deprived of oxygen, were significantly more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in life ...

Attention deficit disorders created Dec 10, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Tech opens communication doors for grandparents of grandkids with ASD

For three years, University of Utah researchers have been deploying a computer-based design program called SketchUp in workshops to teach and develop life skills for youth on the autism spectrum. An earlier ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Combining two genome analysis approaches supports immune system contribution to autism

Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 06, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Autistic adults report significant shortcomings in their health care

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have found that adults with autism, who represent about 1 percent of the adult population in the United States, report significantly worse health care experiences than ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 06, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researchers find new genetic pathway behind neurodevelopmental disorders

Researchers at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, have discovered a new genetic process that could one day provide a novel target for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability ...

Genetics created Dec 06, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Psychiatry gets revised diagnostic manual

(HealthDay)—The long-awaited revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been approved, bringing with it a series of revisions, additions and subtractions to the tome t ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Dec 03, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Children with autism arrive at emergency room for psychiatric crisis nine times more than peers

In the first study to compare mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits between children with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD), researchers found that ED visits are nine times more likely to be for ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 03, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Novel studies of gene regulation in brain development may mean new treatment of mental disorders

(Phys.org)—A team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego and the Institut Pasteur, Paris has come up with a novel way to describe a time-dependent brain development based on coherent–gene-groups (CGGs) ...

Genetics created Dec 02, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Asperger's dropped from revised diagnosis manual

The now familiar term "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums will be given a scientific-sounding diagnosis called DMDD. But "dyslexia" and other learning disorders remain.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Dec 02, 2012 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (3) | comments 1

Biomarker progress offers hope for early autism spectrum disorder detection

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders typically characterized by difficulties in social interactions and delayed or abnormal language development. Although ASD reportedly affects 1 in 88 people ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Nov 30, 2012 | popularity 2 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Controversial treatment for autism may do more harm than good, researchers find

A controversial treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not only ineffective but may be harmful, according to a study conducted by Baylor University researchers.

Autism spectrum disorders created Nov 29, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers study cry acoustics to determine risk for autism

Autism is a poorly understood family of related conditions. People with autism generally lack normal social interaction skills and engage in a variety of unusual and often characteristic behaviors, such as repetitive movements. ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Nov 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Dramatic rise in autism prevalence parallels research explosion

Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. describes how the dramatic progress in autism research has paralleled increased recognition of autism's prevalence and financial impact in the December issue of ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Nov 26, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Unique treatment proposed for children's developmental coordination disorder

An Indiana University study in the Journal of Child Neurology proposes an innovative treatment for developmental coordination disorder, a potentially debilitating neurological disorder in which the develo ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Nov 26, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast


The term "autism spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders include autism, Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. These disorders are typically characterized by social deficits, communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests, and/or cognitive delays. Although these diagnoses share some common features, individuals with these disorders are thought to be "on the spectrum" because of differences in severity across these domains.

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