No abstract

While there is a general consensus in the literature that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty with cognitive empathy, much less is known about emotional empathy processing in these individuals. Most research has employed subjective self-report measures, which can often be misinterpreted or under-reported/over-reported. More objective measures such as psychophysiological recordings of arousal offer a more objective response. Furthermore, combining physiological responses with self-report ratings allows us to explore the relationship between these two responses to emotionally charged stimuli. A total of 25 individuals with autism spectrum disorder were compared with 25 matched controls on their physiological (arousal) and psychological (self-report) responses to emotionally distressing video scenes. These responses were also then compared with self-report cognitive and emotional trait empathy. Results indicate that while individuals with autism spectrum disorder appear to respond similarly to controls physiologically, their interpretation of this response is dampened emotionally. Furthermore, this dampening of self-report emotional response is associated with a general reduction in trait empathy.

No abstract

Challenging behaviour following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major source of stress for families. Providing support can be limited by availability of clinicians and geographic location. A solution is to provide support on-line. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an on-line treatment program "Carer's Way Ahead" that provides families and carers with psychoeducation about TBI and challenging behaviours, specific approaches to managing apathy, irritability/ aggression, acting without thinking and social difficulties and also self-care for the family member. Each module was supplemented with detailed notes and summaries of the sessions.Six family carers, five caring for a person with TBI and one caring for a person with stroke, worked through the program, providing feedback on wording, content, structure and useability.They also completed measures of family functioning, social problem solving, carer strain, mood and the nature and severity of challenging behaviours. In general, the families were positive about the program with most finding it useful, practical and logically structured although not all believed it was helpful. There was little change in self-reported challenging behaviour, mood, carer strain and family function over the few months of the program. Longer-term effects were not examined but this requires further research.

Whilst some form of ostracism is experienced by most people at some point in their lives, it is experienced far more often in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Little is known about how this social exclusion is interpreted, experienced or managed. This study aimed to explore the psychological (mood and social needs) as well as the physiological (arousal) effects of ostracism using a well-established paradigm, Cyberball. Results demonstrated no differences between groups on social needs, however, mood was rated as more negatively by ASDs overall. Arousal was increased in when excluded compared with when excluded for ASDs, but not for controls. Overall, individuals with ASD experienced heightened physiological arousal but whilst these individuals reported overall lower mood, this response to ostracism was not expressed as emotionally significant to these individuals, suggesting possible interoceptive difficulties in this population. This highlights the need for both understanding in non-ASD individuals and intervention of this emotional distress in individuals with ASD.