Obesity in young children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence and associated factors.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify rates of overweight and obesity in young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and factors related to overweight.

Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted for 273 children with ASD [i.e.

Nutrition, physical activity, and bone mineral density in youth with autistic spectrum disorders.

Objective: Fractures and pain, secondary to low bone mineral density (BMD), have been reported in pediatric patients with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of this study was to assess the BMD of a clinical sample of 10- to 18-year olds with ASD, and the nutrition and physical activity correlates of skeletal health in this population.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with ASD were recruited from an outpatient multidisciplinary child-development clinic.

Evaluation of developmental surveillance by physicians at the two-month preventive care visit.

We evaluated the effects of feedback and instruction on resident physician performance during developmental surveillance of infants at 2-month preventive care visits. Baseline data were obtained by videotaping 3 residents while they performed the physical and developmental exam components. Training consisted of individualized feedback and a brief instructional module, after which the residents were again videotaped while they performed preventive care visits.

24-hour provoked urine excretion test for heavy metals in children with autism and typically developing controls, a pilot study.

Introduction: The complementary and alternative medicine practice of prescribing chelators to children with autism is based on the premise that the chronic symptoms of autism can be ameliorated by reducing heavy metal body burden. However, there has not been definitive evidence, published to date, to support the assertion that children with autism are at increased risk of an excess chelatable body burden of heavy metals. The oral chelator meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) can be used diagnostically to mobilize heavy metals from extravascular pools, enhancing the identification of individuals who have a chelatable body burden.

Are we in the midst of an autism epidemic? A review of prevalence data.

Autism is a "developmental disorder of neurobiologic origin that is defined on the basis of developmental and behavioral features." Studies over the past 10-15 years suggest that the prevalence of autism is rising. Media coverage has been extensive and has indicated the presence of an "autism epidemic.

Family and psychosocial risk factors in a longitudinal epidemiological study of adolescents.

Objective: To study the association of family and social risk factors with psychopathology in a longitudinal study of adolescents.

Method: From 1986 to 1988, 3,419 seventh through ninth graders were screened with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The top decile scorers and a random sample of the remainder were interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (n = 581).

Effects of a long-term psychosocial nursing intervention on adolescents exposed to catastrophic stress.

This research tested the effects of a long-term psychosocial nursing intervention designed to decrease mental distress in adolescents following a catastrophic event. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses conducted the Catastrophic Stress Intervention (CSI) in two South Carolina high schools for three years following Hurricane Hugo. The CSI consisted of nine protocols designed to decrease adolescents' mental distress by increasing their understanding of stress and by enhancing their self-efficacy and social support.