Evaluating Sleep in Autism Using CSHQ and CSHQ-Autism - A Perspective Through the Cultural Lens.

The Child Sleep Hygiene Questionnaire (CSHQ) and its adapted version for autistic children, known as CSHQ-Autism, have gained recognition as essential tools for studying pediatric sleep patterns. 67 autistic children were evaluated using these questionnaires. 52 children screened positive on the CSHQ while 18 were screened positive on the CSHQ-Autism.

Prenatal epigenetic factors are predisposing for neurodevelopmental disorders-Considering placenta as a model.

The heterogeneous characteristics of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have resulted in varied perspectives on their causation. The biology behind the phenotypic heterogeneity in NDDs is not yet well-defined, but a strong genetic basis has become well accepted as causal for NDDs. Alongside this, there is growing focus on epigenetic mechanisms.

Global child and adolescent mental health perspectives: bringing change locally, while thinking globally.

Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) are a global priority. Different countries across the globe face unique challenges in CAMH services that are specific to them. However, there are multiple issues that are also similar across countries.

Coping with autism during lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is thought to have greatly impacted families of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to lockdown, given lack of access to healthcare, therapy, and day-care centers. This survey was conducted to understand the magnitude of the impact of lockdown, and its effect on the health and behavior of individuals with ASD and their families.

Materials And Methods: We conducted an anonymous online survey, disseminated to families registered with our hospital and collaborating centers.

Experiences of student and trainee autism researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in significant personal and professional adjustments. Students and trainees, including those in autism research, face unique challenges to accomplishing their training and career goals during this unprecedented time. In this commentary, we, as members of the International Society for Autism Research Student and Trainee Committee, describe our personal experiences, which may or may not align with those of other students and trainees.

Mental health of children with neurodevelopmental disorders during COVID-19: A brief report of family experiences from a low and middle income country.

COVID-19 has grossly impacted lives of people across the globe. In particular, children have also been affected due to closure of schools, therapy, and day care centers. Families have been challenged with new circumstances, and mental health professionals are coming up with novel ways to help these families who have children with mental health issues.

Clinico-Etiological Profile of Pediatric Syncope: A Single Center Experience.

Objective: To describe the clinical profile of children with syncope.

Methods: Hospital records were reviewed for clinical and laboratory details of children presenting with real or apparent syncope. Five diagnostic categories were identified: neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS), cardiac, neurological and indeterminate.

Early childhood network alterations in severe autism.

Objective: To examine the differences in whole brain topology and connectivity in 17 children of the ages 3-8 years across severity of ASD, we performed resting state fMRI using a 3T MRI scanner and graph theoretical analysis of networks.

Method: Patients were partitioned into two cohorts based on the severity of ASD, determined using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores (Mild, 30-36; Severe, 37+). Standard preprocessing pipeline was used, followed by independent component analysis (ICA) to identify regions of interest (ROIs) to construct subject-specific Z-correlation matrices representing the whole brain network.

Social experiential deprivation in autism spectrum disorders: A possible prognostic factor?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are well known to be influenced by various environmental factors. Among these influencers, social experiential deprivation (SED) in infancy is one of them which is not well reported. We explored factors contributing to SED in 11 young children diagnosed to have ASD and compared them to 24 children without SED also having ASD.

Pervasive refusal syndrome - A clinical challenge.

Pervasive refusal syndrome is described as a condition comprising varying degrees of refusal across several domains; social withdrawal; resistance to treatment and is potentially life threatening with no detectable organic cause. Female predominance, refusal to eat with low weight, body image distortion, depressive features, premorbid personality issues similar to eating disorders have been noted, with 67% cases having complete recovery. In this paper, we describe what is probably the first case reported from India, of a child, who presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms, and treated with electroconvulsive therapy along with medications, but, sadly had a fatal outcome.