• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.35-40
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• 2022

Objectives: Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The complexity of behavioral patterns has called for the creation of phenotypically homogeneous subgroups among individuals with ASD. The purpose of this study was 1) to investigate the different types of RRBs and 2) to explore whether subgroups created by RRBs would show unique levels of functioning in toddlers and young children with ASD. Methods: A total of 313 children with ASD, aged 12-42 months were included in the analysis. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised was used to obtain information on the different types of RRBs by grouping 15 items into six categories. The Vineland Adaptive Behaviors Scale, a parent-reported questionnaire, was used to measure adaptive functioning. A portion of the children were analyzed separately for verbal-related RRBs based on their expressive language level. Two-step cluster analysis using RRB groups as features was used to create subgroups. Analysis of covariance while covarying for age and language was performed to explore the clinical characteristics of each cluster group. Results: Sensory-related RRBs were the most prevalent, followed by circumscribed interests, interest in objects, resistance to change, and repetitive body movements. A subset of the children was analyzed separately to explore verbal-related RRBs. Four cluster groups were created based on reported RRBs, with multiple RRBs demonstrating significant delays in adaptive functioning. Conclusion: Heterogeneity of RRBs emerges at a young age. The different patterns of RRBs can be used as valuable information to determine developmental trajectories with better implications for treatment approaches.

• 인간행동과 음악연구
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.61-88
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• 2023

본 연구는 자폐스펙트럼장애(Autism Spectrum Disorder, 이하 ASD) 아동과 비장애 형제를 대상으로 협력적 악기연주 프로그램을 실행하여 형제간 상호작용에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는지를 알아보기 위한 사례연구이다. 대상자는 만 7-12세 ASD 아동 3명과 만 6-11세 비장애 형제 3명으로 ASD 아동과 비장애 형제로 구성된 각 그룹이 40분씩, 주 2회, 총 8회기의 중재에 참여하였다. 중재는 동시적 행동 수행의 단계, 상호보완적 행동 수행의 단계, 협력을 통한 공동의 목표 성취의 단계 총 3단계로 구성되었다. 매회기 중재 시 ASD 아동과 비장애 형제에게 나타난 상호작용 시작·반응행동, 연쇄적 상호작용 행동 및 협력적 연주 행동을 관찰하여 측정하였으며 중재 전후 비장애 형제는 형제관계척도를 보호자는 보호자가 지각한 형제관계척도를 평정하도록 하였다. 연구 결과, 상호작용 시작·반응행동, 연쇄적 상호작용 행동, 협력적 연주 행동이 중재 회기가 진행됨에 따라 점차 증가하는 양상을 보였다. 보호자와 비장애 형제가 평정한 형제관계척도의 평정 점수 또한 프로그램 후 증가하였으나 형제 갈등 및 경쟁의식 하위 영역에서는 뚜렷한 변화가 나타나지 않았는데 이는 형제간 접촉이 증가하면서 갈등과 경쟁의식을 경험하는 기회 역시 증가할 수 있음을 나타낸다. ASD 아동과 비장애 형제가 함께 참여하는 중재 연구의 필요성이 증가하는 시점에서 본 연구 결과는 공동의 목표를 가지고 협력적으로 연주하는 중재가 형제간 상호작용 시도 및 친밀감 증가에 효과적일 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 인간행동과 음악연구
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.69-87
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• 2024

본 연구는 자폐스펙트럼장애(Autism Spectrum Disorder, 이하 ASD) 아동을 대상으로 음악적 단서 및 후속 자극에 따른 공동주의 반응 행동이 달라지는지 알아보고, 비장애(neurotypically developing, 이하 NT) 아동 그룹과 비교하는 실험연구이다. 본 연구의 대상자는 만 3세에서 5세 사이의 ASD 아동 13명과 NT 아동 14명이다. 본 연구에서는 공동주의 반응을 유도하는 단서(음악적 단서 대 언어적 단서)와 아동의 공동주의 반응 행동에 대한 후속 자극(언어 자극 대소리 자극 대 음악 자극)을 구성하고 총 6가지 과제 조건을 2회씩 총 12회 제시하였다. 먼저, 주의 유도 단서를 제공하고 3초 이내 대상자의 주의 전환을 평가하였고 대상자의 공동주의 반응 행동이 나타난 경우, 후속 자극을 제공하였으며 후속 자극을 제공하는 동안 대상자의 사회적 참조 행동의 발생 빈도를 측정하여 비교 분석하였다. 연구 결과, 주의 유도 단계에서는 음악적 단서를 제공했을 때 ASD 아동의 공동주의 반응 행동 수준을 높게 유도하는 것으로 나타나 선행연구와 일치한 결과를 보였다. 이어 후속 자극 제공 단계에서는 음악 후속 자극이 ASD 아동의 사회적 참조 행동의 빈도를 증가시킨 것으로 확인되었다. 이는 음악 후속 자극이 단서로서의 감각자극에서 나아가 대상자로 하여금 타인의 사회적, 정서적 정보를 이해하고 반응하도록 유도하는데 그 적용 범위가 확장된 것에 의의가 있다. 또한, ASD 아동의 공동주의 행동 이후 제공하는 후속 음악 자극이 효과적인 사회적 강화 요인이 될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.22-29
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• 2015

Objectives : Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors are core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of our study was to investigate the frequency of motor stereotypes in ASD children and their clinical features. Methods : Among 171 ASD children (age range, 3-15), the ASD group with motor stereotypes was defined according to two items in the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R). We compared the clinical features, behavior problems and severity of other domains in the K-ADI-R and executive functions between the ASD group with motor stereotypes and the ASD group without motor stereotypes. Results : Ninety (52.6%) of 171 ASD children had motor stereotypes. The ASD group with motor stereotypes had a lower intelligence quotient score (62.23 vs. 84.94, p<.001) compared to the ASD group without motor stereotypes. The ASD group with motor stereotypes had more impairments in the social interaction domain [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.11, p=.001] and communication domain (AOR 1.15, p=.008). Thought problems and lethargy were more frequent in the ASD group with motor stereotypes than the ASD group without motor stereotypes (AOR 2.059, p=.034 ; adjusted OR 1.045, p=.046). However, no significant differences in executive function were observed between the ASD group with motor stereotypes and the ASD group without motor stereotypes. Conclusion : The ASD group with motor stereotypes showed more impairment in social interaction and communication domains, which are core symptoms of autism. Motor stereotypes may indicate greater severity of ASD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.126-130
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• 2019

Purpose: In this meta-analysis, relevant case-control and cohort studies were pooled to evaluate the association between preeclampsia and the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children. Methods: A search for relevant studies in major databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, was performed up to May 2018. The odds ratios (ORs) or rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted from eligible studies to determine the association among studies. Results: The pooled estimates of ORs and RRs indicated a significant association between preeclampsia and ASD [(OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.12-1.60) and (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20-1.41)]. Conclusions: Despite existing controversy, our findings indicated that preeclampsia was associated with an increased risk of ASD among children.

• 감성과학
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.77-90
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• 2018

자폐 스펙트럼 장애를 가진 대상(이하 ASD)의 정서 인식 능력에 대한 행동 연구의 결과는 혼재되어 있고, 대부분 단일 감각 양식의 정서 인식 능력에 대한 검증에 치중되어 있다. 따라서 ASD가 실제로 정서 인식 결함을 가지고 있는지에 대한 통합적 이해는 아직 이루어지지 않은 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구는 다중 감각 양식 정서 자극에 대한 따른 ASD 환자의 정서 인식 능력에 초점을 맞추고, ASD의 정서 인식 능력에 대한 혼재된 결과를 설명하기 위하여 최신 행동연구와 인지신경과학 연구들을 개관하였다. 그 결과, 정서 인식 과제에서 행동적 결함을 보이지 않았던 ASD 일지라도, 뇌 영상 결과에서는 정서 정보 통합 기능에서 결함이 발견되었다. 따라서 본 개관 연구에서는, 최근에 제안된 ASD의 다중 감각 양식에 따른 정서 인식 능력의 결함, ASD의 정서 정보 통합 기능 결함, 그리고 실생활에서 정서 인식의 어려움에 대한 가능성과 선행 연구들의 제한점에 대해 논의하였다. 또한, ASD가 정서 정보를 통합하는 과정에서 활용하는 보상 기제를 살펴보고, ASD의 정서 기능 결함과 관련된 치료적 접근 방향과 후속 연구에 대해 제언하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.30-37
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to verify the validity and clinical cutoff score of the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 (CBCL 1.5-5) for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: 44 ASD infants and 100 normal infants participated. T-test, discriminant analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and odds ratio analysis were performed on the data. Results: Discriminant validity was confirmed by mean differences and discriminant analysis on the subscales of Withdrawn, Attention problems, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, and all Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-oriented scales between the two groups. ROC curve analysis showed that Withdrawn, Attention problems, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, DSM pervasive developmental problems, DSM attention deficit/hyperactivity problems, and DSM oppositional defiant problems significantly predicted ASD infants compared to normal infants. In addition, the clinical cutoff score criteria adopted in the Korean CBCL 1.5-5 for subscales of Withdrawn, Attention problems, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, DSM pervasive developmental problems, DSM attention deficit/hyperactivity problems, and DSM oppositional defiant problems were shown to be valid. Conclusion: The subscales of Withdrawn, Attention problems, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, DSM pervasive developmental problems, DSM attention deficit/hyperactivity problems, and DSM oppositional defiant problems significantly discriminated for the diagnosis of ASD.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.238-243
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• 2022

Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral syndrome characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction, and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The gene encoding Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is one of a few exceptional genes of established causal effect in ASD. Although genetically engineered mice studies may shed light on how MeCP2 loss affects synaptic activity patterns across the whole brain, such studies are not considered practical in ASD patients due to the overall level of impairment, and are technically challenging in mice. For the first time, we show that hippocampal MeCP2 knockdown produces behavioral abnormalities associated with autism-like traits in rats, providing a new strategy to investigate the efficacy of therapeutics in ASD. Ketamine, an N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocker, has been proposed as a possible treatment for autism. Using the MeCP2 knockdown rats in conjunction with a rat model of valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD, we examined gene expression and ASD behaviors upon ketamine treatment. We report that the core symptoms of autism in MeCP2 knockdown rats with social impairment recovered dramatically following a single treatment with ketamine.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.41-45
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess serum, hair, and urinary magnesium (Mg) levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and both ASD and ADHD to reveal potential interactive effects. Methods: A total of 148 boys aged 4-9 years old were enrolled in this study, including 44 children with ADHD, 40 pediatric patients with ASD, 32 patients with both ADHD and ASD, as well as 32 healthy neurotypical children. Hair, serum, and urinary Mg levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Laboratory quality control was performed using certified reference materials of human hair, plasma, and urine. Results: No significant group difference in serum Mg levels was observed. Mg content in hair was found to be reduced in children with ADHD and ADHD+ASD compared to that in healthy controls by 11% and 15%, respectively. Urinary Mg levels in children with ADHD+ASD exceeded the control, ADHD, and ASD values by 51, 76, and 65%, respectively. Factorial analysis revealed significant contribution of ADHD to hair and urinary Mg levels. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that hair and urinary Mg levels were considered as significant predictors of neurodevelopmental disorder complexity. Conclusion: We propose that impaired Mg status may provide a link between ADHD and ASD.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.121-126
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• 2009

Objectives : The serotonin transporter gene(SLC6A4) is one of the most widely studied candidate genes in autism spectrum disorder(ASD), but there have been conflicting results from studies into the association between SLC6A4 and ASD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the SLC6A4 gene and ASD in the Korean population. Methods : We selected 12 SNPs in SLC6A4 and observed the genotype of 151 Korean ASD trios. We tested the family-based association for each individual polymorphism and haplotype by using the standard TDT method in Haploview(http://www.broad.mit.edu/mpg/haploview/). Results : Through transmission-disequilibrium testing and haplotype analysis, we could not find any statistically significant transmitted allele or haplotype. In addition, a case-control association test with Korean HapMap data did not reveal any statistical significance. Conclusion : Although serotonin-related genes must be considered candidate genes for ASD, we suggest that common SNPs of SLC6A4 are not important markers for associations with Korean ASD.