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To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6155.2009.00196.x Byline: Lis West (1), Susan H. Brunssen (2), Julee Waldrop (2) Keywords: Antidepressants; autism; pervasive developmental disorder; pharmacotherapy; psychopharmacotherapy; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Abstract: PURPOSE. To review the potential role of serotonin dysregulation in autism and the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating core deficits and associated symptoms of autism in children. The literature was searched for reports of SSRI use in children with autism. Data are presented from prospective clinical trials that evaluated treatment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. Some SSRIs show moderate success in managing specific behaviors. Only fluoxetine shows evidence of decreasing global autism severity. PRACTICE IMPLICATION. Definitive conclusions concerning selection criteria, dosage, safety, and efficacy cannot be drawn given the current state of evidence. Author Affiliation: (1)Carolina Pediatric Group, Fayetteville, NC (2)The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Article History: First received March 1, 2008; Revision received March 1, 2009; Accepted for publication March 18, 2009. Article note: jwaldrop@unc.edu, with a copy to the Editor: roxie.foster@UCDenver.edu

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01016.x Abstract: This study on sensitivity and attachment included 55 toddlers and their parents. Samples included children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mental retardation, language delay, and typical development. Children were diagnosed at 4 years of age. Two years before diagnosis, attachment was assessed with the Strange Situation procedure, and parental sensitivity and child involvement during free play were assessed with the Emotional Availability Scale. Parents of children with ASD were equally sensitive as parents of children without ASD, but their children showed more attachment disorganization and less child involvement. More sensitive parents had more secure children, but only in the group without ASD. Less severe autistic symptoms in the social domain predicted more attachment security. Autism challenges the validity of attachment theory. Author Affiliation: (1)Centre for Child and Family Studies (2)Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (3)Utrecht University Medical Centre Article note: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Marinus van IJzendoorn, Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, NL-2300RB Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic mail may be sent to vanijzen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

The role of inner speech deficit in cognitive performances of children with autism is investigated by conducting three experiments. The results indicated that individuals with autistic disorder would face limitations in their use of inner speech.

A study was conducted to investigate the tendency for local processing style and executive dysfunction in parents of subjects with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with parents of individuals with early onset schizophrenia (EOS) and mental retardation (MR). The findings indicated that an increased tendency for local processing in terms of visual disembedding could be a relatively specific core feature of the broader cognitive phenotype of autism in parents.

The presence of autism spectrum disorders was examined in seventy-six 14-year olds with a confirmed history of specific language impairment (SLI). The results showed prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in young people with SLI was about 3.9%, which is 10% more than the general population, and in addition, a much larger number of young people with a history of SLI showed only some autism spectrum symptoms or showed them in a mild form.

A study was conducted to examine the efficacy of targeted interventions of joint attention and symbolic play in a group of 58 children with autism aged 3 and 4 years, randomized for a joint attention intervention, a symbolic play intervention, or control group. Results indicated that both intervention groups improved significantly over the control group on certain behaviors, and children in the playgroup showed more diverse types of symbolic play in interaction with their mothers.

Caregivers of 258 children in five diagnostic groups were asked to complete the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ) to assess the nature of sensory patterns of hyper- and hyporesponsiveness, their prevalence and developmental correlates in autism. The SEQ was able to characterize sensory features in young children in autism, and differentiate their patterns from comparison groups.

A study was conducted to examine the factor structure of Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors and Interests (RRBI) domain of autism, in a sample of 339 individuals diagnosed for pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). Findings indicated that the RRBI domain is composed of two distinct factors, Insistence on Sameness (IS), and Repetitive Sensory and Motor Behaviors (RSMB), where RSMB is negatively correlated with adaptive skills, and IS positively correlated with autistic symptoms in the communication and language domain.

A hypothesized symptom model for autism was constructed, and was put to a confirmatory test. The hypothesized symptom model appeared to be a plausible model in a group of individuals with a broad range of autistic behaviors and levels of functioning.