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ERIC Number: EJ1445474
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Nov
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Probing Heterogeneity to Identify Individualized Treatment Approaches in Autism: Specific Clusters of Executive Function Challenges Link to Distinct Co-Occurring Mental Health Problems
Cara E. Pugliese; Rebecca Handsman; Xiaozhen You; Laura Gutermuth Anthony; Chandan Vaidya; Lauren Kenworthy
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v28 n11 p2834-2847 2024
Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and inattention are common in autistic youth and are challenging to treat by community providers. We aim to parse the heterogeneity of autism based on dimensions of executive function and determine whether specific executive function profiles are differentially related to psychiatric symptoms. Parents of 397 well-characterized 8-14-year-old autistic children without an intellectual disability reported on their child's executive function skills and psychiatric symptoms. We applied a data-driven, graph theory-based, community-detection approach to a common executive function measure, revealing three distinct executive function profile subgroups. Despite having similar social challenges, the executive function subgroups differed on anxiety, aggression, affect, and inattention symptoms. Results support the need for more intensive subtyping with autistic youth to develop appropriate, individualized mental health treatments and supports. Characterizing youth through neurocognitive strengths and challenges can guide the development of precision medicine, allowing for more meaningful, specialized treatment.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Child Behavior Checklist; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
Grant or Contract Numbers: T32HD04638801A2; K23MH110612; U54HD090257