Stress and Coping in Autism

Baron, M. Grace; Groden, June; Groden, Gerald; Lipsitt, Lewis P.

doi:10.1093/med:psych/9780195182262.001.0001

Cited by 48 publications

(30 citation statements)

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“…The body's return back to homeostasis is controlled by the parasympathetic branch of the ANS. The HPA axis, which encompasses a cascade of biochemical reactions, is also activated following stress exposure, resulting in increased levels of cortisol that peak around 20 min post stressor (Romanczyk & Gillis, 2006). In TD adults, Moons, Eisenberger, and Taylor (2010) distinguished between self‐reported anger and fear responses to stress, which differentially influenced the HPA axis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irritability in boys with autism spectrum disorders: an investigation of physiological reactivity

Mikita

Hollocks

Papadopoulos

et al. 2015

Child Psychology Psychiatry

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BackgroundIrritability in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is common and impairing, yet its mechanisms remain understudied. We investigated symptom reporting and mechanisms of irritability in ASD, focusing on the relation between irritability and physiological stress responses.MethodsForty‐seven unmedicated boys with high‐functioning ASD (hfASD) and 23 typically developing boys aged 10–16 years completed a psychosocial stress test. Changes in cortisol, heart rate and heart rate variability throughout the test were recorded. Self‐ and parent‐reported measures of irritability were obtained. Irritability symptom reporting in the hfASD group was compared to two groups of boys without ASD: highly irritable boys (severe mood dysregulation, SMD; n = 40) and healthy‐control boys (HC; n = 30).ResultsBoys with hfASD scored significantly higher on irritability than HC boys, and they reported a pattern of irritability symptoms closely resembling that of boys with SMD. The internal consistency of irritability in hfASD was high by parent‐ and self‐report. Although boys with hfASD showed significant stress‐induced changes in cortisol and heart rate, those who rated themselves as highly irritable had lower cortisol levels throughout the test compared to those low on irritability. Participants rated as highly irritable by their parents showed blunted cortisol and heart rate responses to stress. The effects of irritability on heart rate, but not cortisol, were accounted for by trait anxiety.ConclusionsIrritability can be measured reliably in hfASD and is associated with distinct biological responses to stress.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irritability in boys with autism spectrum disorders: an investigation of physiological reactivity

Mikita

Hollocks

Papadopoulos

et al. 2015

Child Psychology Psychiatry

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“…In addition to basic social skill deficiencies, three key issues that are consistently described as core deficits related to social impairment in ASD individuals are stress/anxiety (Baron et al 2006), attention (Frith 1989;Rosenn 2002), and flexibility/transitions, each of which have related perceptual, neuropsychological, and behavioral components (Klin et al 2002) and each of which appear to be governed by underlying developmental aspects. These variables were chosen for study here because they are consistently referenced as important deficiencies in nearly all groups of individuals with ASD studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Competence and Social Skills Training and Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Cotugno

2009

J Autism Dev Disord

114

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This study examined the effectiveness of a 30 week social competence and social skills group intervention program with children, ages 7-11, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Eighteen children with ASD were assessed with pretreatment and posttreatment measures on the Walker-McConnell Scale (WMS) and the MGH YouthCare Social Competence Development Scale. Each received the 30-week intervention program. For comparison, a matched sample of ten non-ASD children was also assessed, but received no treatment. The findings indicated that each ASD intervention group demonstrated significant gains on the WMS and significant improvement in the areas of anxiety management, joint attention, and flexibility/transitions. Results suggest that this approach can be effective in improving core social deficits in individuals with ASD.

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“…One recent review suggested that on average, 40% of those with ASDs suffer significant anxiety symptoms (White et al, 2009). Other research has shown that chronic stress has a significant impact on multiple aspects of psychological and physical health (Baron, Groden, Goden, & Lipsitt, 2006).…”

Section: Public Interest Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%