Autism in Adult Patients and the Effects on Caregivers
Summary
Background: The number of adults with autism is expected to rise significantly in the near future, due to two main reasons: First, a dramatic increase in the estimates of the prevalence of autism starting in the mid 1980s; Second, the clinical diagnosis of autism was first introduced during the 1950s, and those diagnosed with autism back then are only now entering middle age. Few studies, however, have focused on the outcomes of adult autistic individuals, and very little is known about the course of autism in adulthood and on the familial burden resulting from caring for an autistic adult. We therefore propose to study adult outcomes in autism, and to examine the influence of raising an autistic individual on the parents.
Working hypothesis and aims: The primary objectives of the study are:
1. Determine clinical status and functioning of autistic adults.
2. Study the influence of raising and caring for an individual with autism on the well-being of the parents.
Study Design
Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective
Conditions
Autism
Location
Sheba Medical Center
Tel Hashomer
Israel
Status
Not yet recruiting
Source
Sheba Medical Center
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00367107
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Asperger Syndrome
A childhood disorder predominately affecting boys and similar to autism (AUTISTIC DISORDER). It is characterized by severe, sustained, clinically significant impairment of social interaction, and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior. In contrast to autism, there are no clinically significant delays in language or cognitive development. (From DSM-IV)
Clinical Trials
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This study will identify factors that distinguish children with autism from children with developmental delay and those with normal development and study the efficacy of intensive behavior...
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The purpose of this study is to understand how genes, environment, and the interplay between the two, influences the development of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
PubMed Articles
The promise and the pitfalls of autism research: An introductory note for new autism researchers.
The last decade has seen an enormous growth in the quantity of research directed at understanding the biological underpinnings of autism spectrum disorders. This increase has been spurred on, in part,...
Middle School Students' Knowledge of Autism.
Authors examined 1,015 middle school students' knowledge of autism using a single item of prior awareness and a 10-item Knowledge of Autism (KOA) scale. The KOA scale was designed to assess students'...
Knowledge and Attitude of General Practitioners Regarding Autism in Karachi, Pakistan.
General practitioners (GPs) could have an important role in early diagnosis of autism. There have been no studies evaluating the knowledge of GPs regarding autism in Pakistan. We aimed to fill that ga...
Ethics and Autism: Where is the Autistic Voice? Commentary on Post et al.
Genomics, intellectual disability, and autism.
To the Editor: Mefford et al. (Feb. 23 issue)(1) provide an excellent review of the genomic factors in autism but do not mention that the quantitative contribution of the enumerated genetic factors to...
