Exploring the Congruence of actigraphy and the Pediatric Autism Insomnia rating Scale.

Objective/background: Insomnia is common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We recently developed and validated the 21-item Pediatric Autism Insomnia Rating Scale (PAIRS). This report explores the associations and agreements between actigraphy and PAIRS.

Research About Us, With Us: An Inclusive Research Case Study.

Inclusive research combines the expertise of academically trained researchers with the lived experience of individuals with disabilities to render results that are more accessible, accountable, and meaningful to the disability community. In this case study, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) contributed as co-researchers to a series of studies on mental health of adults with intellectual disability. The research model, specific engagement strategies, and lessons learned are shared.

A secondary analysis examining the influence of emotional support on the mental health of caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Purpose: The study purpose was to examine the effect of emotional support on the overall mental health and stress for caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study using secondary data from the 2016-2019 National Survey of Children's Health was conducted using single variable and multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results: More informal emotional support sources were associated with better overall mental health (β = 0.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Providing Care for People With Disabilities.

Palliative care (PC) clinicians are well poised to help people with disabilities (PWD) live well in the context of serious illness. PC prioritizes person-centered care with a focus on function, autonomy, and quality of life. This approach aligns with principles of high-quality care for PWD.

Aspiring to Disability Consciousness in Health Professions Training.

Lack of disability-competent health care contributes to inequitable health outcomes for the largest minoritized population in the world: persons with disabilities. Health care professionals hold implicit and explicit bias against disabled people and report receiving inadequate disability training. While disability competence establishes a baseline standard of care, health professional educators must prepare a disability conscious workforce by challenging ableist assumptions and promoting holistic understanding of persons with disabilities.

Assessment of Interprofessional Competence of Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Trainees through a Virtual Standardized Patient Encounter.

Introduction: Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs have an emphasis on developing skills in providing family-centered and interdisciplinary care. Due to Coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions, opportunities for interdisciplinary education were limited for the 2020-2021 LEND Trainee cohort at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center. Standardized Patient (SP) encounters can be a mechanism for instruction and assessment of interprofessional competence.

Qualitative Exploration Toward the Development of a Parent-Rated Scale for Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Toward the development of a new parent-rating for insomnia, this multi-site qualitative study explored sleep problems and related impacts in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. To ensure content validity of the measure, we conducted six focus groups with caregivers (N = 25) of 24 children (age 3 to 18 years) with ASD. Based on parent report, all children had a history of mild or greater insomnia.

The French Version of the DABS: Adaptation Process and Preliminary Field Test.

The aim of this study was to develop a transcultural adaptation of the Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS) in French and to perform a field evaluation of the adapted version of the tool (DABS-F). Eight experts in intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and two professional translators formed two committees to translate the instrument. Thirty-four independent experts in IDD rated the clarity and relevance of the DABS-F.

Putting "ME" into measurement: Adapting self-report health measures for use with individuals with intellectual disability.

Background: Self-report is important for measuring health outcomes; however, most research in intellectual disability (ID) relies on proxy report. The lack of cognitively accessible measures is one barrier to accurate self-reporting by individuals with ID.

Aims: This paper describes the process of adapting self-report measures of health status, health-related quality of life, and environment for use by individuals with ID and presents evidence on their usability (accessibility), usefulness (independent self-report), and reliability (internal consistency and test-retest).

Italian Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale: Reliability and diagnostic accuracy compared with the Vineland-II.

Background: The Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS) is a short scale with excellent properties to assess the conceptual, social, and practical adaptive behavior domains for the diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID) in individuals aged 4-21 years.

Aims: Investigate the test-retest and inter-respondent reliability of the Italian adaptation of the DABS, verify its diagnostic accuracy in identifying individuals with ID and excluding individuals with typical development (TD), and compare its psychometric properties to those of the Vineland-II.

Methods: Test-retest reliability: The same respondent completed the Italian DABS for the same assessed person at two separate times (n = 71).

Empirically supported psychological treatments: The challenges of comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability.

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on psychological interventions with empirical evidence of efficacy in treating common psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability (ID) at all stages of their life. We begin with a brief presentation of what is meant by psychiatric and behavioral disorders in this population, along with an explanation of some of the factors that contribute to the increased psychosocial vulnerability of this group to present with these problems. We then conduct a review of empirically supported psychological therapies used to treat psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with ID.

Invisible populations: Who is missing from research in intellectual disability?

It is estimated that approximately 41% of adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) are served through the developmental disabilities (DD) system in the US. The remaining 59% include individuals who meet diagnostic criteria but are not actively receiving paid services or may not be known to the DD system. Scholars have referred to this group as the "hidden majority.

Straight from the horse's mouth: Increasing self-report in mental health assessment in individuals with intellectual disability.

Background: Mental health conditions are common among individuals with intellectual disability. Under recognition of mental health disorders leading to unmet treatment needs is common in this population. This article addresses one major contributing factor, the lack of cognitively accessible self-report measures for individuals with intellectual disability.

Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Rural Areas: A Literature Review of Mental Health and Social Support.

Problem: Caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report high levels of stress, social isolation, and poor mental health. Social and emotional support may buffer negative effects of stress for caregivers of children with ASD, however, those living in rural areas may be disadvantaged due to social isolation and increased distance from resources. This scoping review examined the literature regarding the mental health and impact of support for rural caregivers of children with ASD.

What should we teach about disability? National consensus on disability competencies for health care education.

Background: Health care providers are unprepared to meet the health needs of patients who have disabilities. Disability training is needed, yet there is little agreement about what should be taught.

Objective: Establish a national consensus on what healthcare providers across disciplines need to know to provide quality care to patients with all types of disabilities (e.

Implementing Living Independent From Tobacco With Dyads of People With Disabilities and Their Caregivers: Successes and Lessons Learned.

People with disabilities have more health complications and higher healthcare utilization related to tobacco use than people without disabilities. Yet, they are less likely to use tobacco cessation resources. Important to meaningful and lasting health behavior change are relationships developed in the home, workplace, and community.

What Matters in Population Health and How We Count It Among People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

This issue, presents an overview of health surveillance research for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States. Although public health now conducts surveillance of people with disabilities broadly defined and compares their health status with that of individuals without disabilities, there are many challenges in conducting health surveillance of people with IDD. Difficulties include how to define cases, how to find cases, and how to obtain accurate information ( Krahn, Fox, Campbell, Ramon, & Jesien, 2010 ).

Employment and choice-making for adults with intellectual disability, autism, and down syndrome.

Background: Adults with disabilities are employed at a significantly lower rate than adults without disabilities. Of adults with disabilities in the workforce, more individuals work in a facility setting rather than a community setting, despite efforts to improve community inclusion. Choice-making has been proposed as a predictive factor for employment for individuals with disabilities.

Dopamine antagonists for treatment resistance in autism spectrum disorders: review and focus on BDNF stimulators loxapine and amitriptyline.

Drug development and repurposing are urgently needed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and psychiatric comorbidity, which often presents as aggression and self-injury. Areas covered: We review dopamine antagonists, including classical and atypical, as well as unconventional antipsychotics in ASD. The older antipsychotic loxapine is discussed in terms of preliminary albeit limited evidence in ASD.

Preparing Tomorrow's Doctors to Care for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities have poorer health and face unique barriers to health care compared to people without disabilities. These health disparities can be partially attributed to physicians' limited knowledge about caring for patients with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ASD training for medical students.

Loxapine for Reversal of Antipsychotic-Induced Metabolic Disturbances: A Chart Review.

Loxapine substitution is a promising option for patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who develop antipsychotic-induced metabolic illness. We performed a chart review of 15 adolescents and adults meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for ASD, all with antipsychotic-associated weight gain, who received low dose loxapine in an attempt to taper or discontinue the weight gain-associated antipsychotic. Mean weight loss was -5.

Low Dose Loxapine: Neuromotor Side Effects and Tolerability in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: New and repurposed drugs are urgently needed to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Loxapine (LOX) in low doses of 5-15 mg/day resembles an atypical antipsychotic (Stahl 2002 ). Our recent open pilot study of LOX found significant behavioral improvements and overall weight neutrality in 16 adolescents and adults with ASD.

Loxapine add-on for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders and irritability.

Objectives: Our clinical experience with low dose loxapine (5-15 mg/day) suggests promising efficacy and safety for irritability in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We studied low dose loxapine prospectively in adolescents and adults with ASD and irritability. Additionally, we measured loxapine and metabolite concentrations, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a biomarker of neuromodulation.

National health surveillance of adults with disabilities, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and adults with no disabilities.

Background: People with disabilities experience worse health and poorer access to health care compared to people without disability. Large-scale health surveillance efforts have largely excluded adults with intellectual and developmental disability. This study expands knowledge of health status, health risks and preventative health care in a representative US sample comparing the health of adults with no disability to adults with intellectual and developmental disability and to adults with other types of disability.