• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the prevalence and characteristics of savant skills and the relationship between the savant skills and autistic symptoms in Korean ASD children. Methods: 141 ASD subjects participated in this study and they were divided in to two groups based on the presence or lack of savant skills. The domain scores and total scores of the K-ADI-R, K-ASDS and SRS were used for evaluating the ASD symptoms between the groups. Results: Memory (N=47) was the most prevalent savant skill in the savant ASD group (N=60). The savant ASD group had a statistically higher mean age and IQ score than did the nonsavant ASD group. Despite their high IQ profile, the savant ASD group showed a higher restricted, repetitive and stereotype behavior score on the K-ADI-R and higher language and cognitive scores on the K-ASDS than did the nonsavant ASD group. Conclusions: These results suggest savant syndrome in ASD might be related to the severity of some subdomain of autistic symptoms even though their IQ scores were higher than nonsavant ASD patients.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 1991

The authors studied chromosomal abnormalities in 38 autistic children meeting the diagnostic criteria of DSM-III-R in order to investigate genere factor in autistic disorder There were 28 males and 10 females, with the mean age being $108.8{\pm}28.5months(70-156months).$ All samples were analyzed on short-term lymphocyre cultures in Medium 199 that contained FUdR. The fragile X chromosome was not found in any of the patients. There were other chromosomal abnormalities in 14(36.8%) of 38 patients, such as breakage, 11cases ; gap, 2case ; breakage and gap, 1 case. In grouping of chromosomal abnormalities, group A patients were 4 cases ; group C were 3 cases ; group A and B was 1 case ; group A and E was 1 case ; group C and E was 1 case ; group A, B and C was 1 case. There were no statistical significance in the 16 symptoms of autistic disorder of DSM-III-R between patients with chromosomal abnormalities and patients without chromosomal abnormalites. These results do not support the hypothesis that fragile X chromosome is an etiological factor in autistic disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.198-208
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• 2000

Objectives：This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the attachment promotion program which was designed to promote attachment between autistic children and their mothers. The program was consisted of play activity centered mother-child interaction, educational activity for mothers by lecture, video-feedback session, and emotional supports. Methods：The subjects were consisted of 11 pairs of mother and child(7 for participant group：PG, 4 for non-participant group：NPG), who were 2-4 years-old autistic children. The data were collected by video-taping, behavioral observations, and analyzed by Wilcoxon Rank(Sign) Sum Test and Content Analysis. Results：The total attachment score increased from pre test to post-test of PG was significantly higher than that of NPG. The scores of attachment behaviors indicating proximity, mutuality and affect increased significantly(p<.05), while some behaviors indicating synchrony and jointattention did not. Especially the affectionate behaviors of PG demonstrated the most notable changes and they became more active, voluntary and reciprocal. After the program, the mother's nurturing behaviors of PG increased more than that of NPG, with no significant difference between two groups. The mother's behaviors to her child of PG became more child-centered, positively responsive, supportively expressive. As the attachment was promoted, there were also positive changes in the children's autistic behaviors with a great deal of individual differences. Conclusion：Our findings suggest that Mother-Child Attachment Promotion Program could be an effective early intervention model for autistic children.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 1991

Plasma $dopamine-{\beta}-hydroxylase(DBH)$ activity was measured in 37 autistic disorders, 26 atypical pervasive developmental disorders and 23 controls, to elucidate the biological etiology in pervasive developmental disorders. The results are summarized as follows : 1) In the autistic group, the mean plasma DBH activity was significantly elevated compared to the atypical and control groups. The mean plasma DBH activity was also significantly elevated in pervasive developmental disorders(autistic disorder+atypical developmental disorder) compared to control group. 2) In the atypical and control groups, the DBH activity significantly increased with age, but in the autistic group, the DBH activity was not significantly correlated with age. 3) No significant correlation was found between the DBH activity and the severity of psychopathology. These findings support the hypothesis of a possible involvement of brain catecholamine dysfunction in the production of autistic symptoms, and this dysfunction might be due to the abnormal ontogenetic process of DBH activity in autistic disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2014

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBI) and autistic symptoms in Korean high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children and to examine the structure of RRBI. Methods : Participants included 147 high functioning ASD subjects and 181 unaffected siblings. ASD subjects were divided into two groups based on the presence of RRBI. The domain scores of the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R), Korean version of Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale and total scores of Korean translated version of Social Responsiveness Scale, Korean version of Social Communication Scale were used for comparison of ASD symptoms between the groups. Eleven items from the RRBI domain of the K-ADI-R were used in principal axis factor analysis (PAF). Results : A statistically lower nonverbal IQ score was observed for ASD with RRBI than for ASD without RRBIs, and more social deficit, communication deficit, and behavioral and emotional problems were observed for ASD with RRBI compared to ASD without RRBI. Using PAF, two distinct factors were identified. 'Resistance to trivial changes in environment', 'Difficulty with minor changes in personal routine & environment', and 'Compulsion/ritual' were included as one factor. Conclusion : Analysis of the data suggests that the presence of RRBI in high functioning ASD is associated with a more severe presentation of autistic disorder. In addition, there appears to be heterogeneity within RRBI in autism except insistence on sameness.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2023

Objectives: Regression, while not a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), has been suggested to be a distinct subtype by previous studies. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the prevalence and clinical differences between those with and without regression in children with ASD. Methods: This study includes data from toddlers and young children aged 2-7 years acquired from other projects at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. The presence and characteristics of regression were explored using question items #11-28 from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. Chi-square and independent t-tests were used to compare various clinical measurements such as autistic symptoms, adaptative behavior, intelligence, and perinatal factors. Results: Data from 1438 young children (1020 with ASD) were analyzed. The overall prevalence rate of regression, which was mainly related to language-related skills, was 10.2% in the ASD group, with an onset age of 24 months. Regarding clinical characteristics, patients with ASD and regression experienced ASD symptoms, especially restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors, with greater severity than those without regression. Furthermore, there were significant associations between regression and hypertension/placenta previa. Conclusion: In-depth surveillance and proactive interventions targeted at young children with ASD and regression should focus on autistic symptoms and other areas of functioning.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.98-105
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• 2016

Group play for sociality is a therapeutic method involving a mixture of various factors, such as targeted activities, perceptions, and physical mobility required in daily life, through group activities to encourage self-expression for the purpose of facilitating sociality. This study was conducted in order to verify its effects by applying it to autistic adolescents who lack communicative ability with others and ultimately to improve their interpersonal relationships and sociality. This study applied a single pre- and post-test experiment design to 8 autistic adolescents with lack of sociality who use a daycare center in Daejeon. The group play for sociality program consisted of two sessions a week for 7 weeks from October to December 2013 for a total of 14 sessions. The sociality of the adolescents before and after the intervention was analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. As a result of the study, the total grades of the E-CLAC and social maturity test showed significant changes from $39.88{\pm}6.78$ to $47.00{\pm}4.28$ and $49.96{\pm}28.00$ to $61.36{\pm}21.75$, respectively. In detail, there were significant changes in the sub-items, such as adjustment in group, following guidance, and increasing behavioral frequency. In conclusion, it was shown that the combined effect of the group activities, including group play for sociality and play activities taking into consideration the developmental stage of the participants, led to a significant improvement in the sociality of the autistic adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.76-90
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• 1999

This study was performed 1) to compare the nature of the synchronized behaviors in mother-child plays between autistic and normal groups quantitatively and qualitatively and 2) to identify the behavioral data to improve synchrony. The subjects were consisted of 20 mother-child pairs, 10 for each autistic group(AG) and normal group(NG). The developmental age of two groups was under 24 months old and equally matched. Data were collected by video-taped mother-child free play and analyzed with Wilcoxon Rank Sign(Sum) Test, Spearman Correlation Coefficient, Scheffe's Test, and Content Analysis. The score on synchronized behaviors of AG was significantly lower than that of NG(p<.05). As time progressed, the difference was much higher between the 2 groups. And the structure of motherchild plays in AG was poor and most of the interactions were discontinued as 1 or 2 episodes. On the other hand, mother-child plays in NG were enriched and became somewhat like game or play. The score of mother's growth-fostering nurturing behaviors showed positive relation to synchrony and much highly related to the group of 16 months-old or above. Mother's laughing and patting responses and pausing to get the child's initiative were especially related highly to synchronized behaviors. In conclusion, these mother's growth-fostering nurturing behaviors should be stressed at the mother-child interactions and also well structured therapeutic play with considering in children's developmental level should be given.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 2000

Objectives：There has been a rapid expansion of studies aimed at elucidating the genetic basis of autistic disorder, especially it’ relationship to fragile-X syndrome. The detection of fragile X chromosome(Xq27.3) by cytogenetic analysis has revealed many difficulties in testing. Therefore, to explore the relationship between autistic disorder and fragile X syndrome, this study administered molecular biologic methods which examined an unstable CGG repeat within the fragile X mental retardation-1(FMR-1) gene. Methods：Ninety nine autistic children and eight normal control children were tested. The number of CGG repeats within FMR-1 gene was measured after amplification by PCR, and cytogenetic analysis was also carried out to detect fragile site Xq27.3. Southern blot hybridization, using StB12.3 and/or Pfxa3 probe, was done for the patients showing expansion of more than 50 CGG repeats (premutation). Results：All but two autistic patients had no expansion in CGG repeats by PCR and there was no significant statistical difference in number of CGG repeat in comparison with normal control. Two autistic patients, considered as premutation by PCR analysis, had no full mutation or premutation by Southern blot hybridization. All autistic children tested did not have any abnormal karyotype or fragile site Xq27.3. Conclusions：These results suggest that autistic patients may not have abnormality in FMR-1 gene or abnormal expansion in CGG repeat. In conclusion, fragile X syndrome may not be antecedent of autistic disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2009

We treated the persistent ruminative vomiting of a 13-year-old autistic boy by using a behavioral and psychopharmacological approach in a closed ward. Before the interventions, the patient had lost about 10kg of body weight due to very high-frequency ruminative vomiting. Together with psychopharmacological trials, the psychiatric treatment included a combination of a behavioral approach and food regulation that emphasized food restrictions, and we provided regular light meals. There was a considerable reduction of the ruminative vomiting and 2kg weight gain was achieved during the admission. These therapeutic gains were maintained at the 4-month follow-up assessment and the vomiting symptom reached a near-zero level and the weight loss were recovered by about 8kg. The issues related to the treatment approaches for ruminative vomiting with autism are discussed.