How to predict severe and dangerous behavior

On the first podcast of 2024, we describe a new paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA which uses physiological measurements like heart rate and skin conductance to predict severe and dangerous behaviors, specifically aggression. If aggression can be predicted, it might be able to be prevented. It turns out aggression can be predicted up to 3 minutes before an episode occurs, in the future these measures can be used to possibly redirect aggression. In a separate study, the issue of stigma is addressed. There is an intense debate over “person first” vs. “identity first” language in autism, promoting recommendations of using one over the other because fear that person first language promotes stigma against autism. A new study shows that there is no added prejudice or fear using either person first or identity first language, but the stigma associated with schizophrenia is worse than it is for autism. What contributes to stigma? There is a wide range of experiences and perceptions of autism that need to be addressed. It’s not as simple as the language used.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38127348/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37965364/

Advice for better understanding underrepresented groups in autism research

This week, we talk to Karla Rivera-Figueroa and Inge-Marie Eigsti, who together with Nana Yaa A. Marfo published a systematic review asking about parental perceptions of autism in both LatinX and Black Sociocultural contexts. Six themes popped out, and the question for Karla and Dr Eigsti were “how can research help”? What funding opportunities, culturally relevant materials, and future research directions need to be focused on? The conversation included ways to battle stigma, improve provider relationships, recruit a more diverse sample in research and fund those underrepresented scientists who want to study autism. As a note, ASF will be releasing their undergraduate fellowship mechanism on Tuesday which will focus on underrepresented groups.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34979034/

Happy Pride all!

This week’s podcast is dedicated to the “T” in LGBTQ –  trans.  Several studies over the past few years have linked higher rates of gender variance in people with autism and higher rates of autism traits in those who are trans.  Why?  Are they biologically or psychologically linked or both?  This is important for understanding, not treatment or intervention.  This week’s podcast celebrates trans people who are also autistic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30547258

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29752630

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30920347

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23864402