Research in developmental disabilities
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The management of problem behaviours (PB) in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), developmental disabilities (DD) and/or autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) can be challenging. Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed where other strategies have failed. A systematic review (SR) was conducted to establish the research evidence for the efficacy of aripiprazole in the management of PB in adults and children with ID, DD and/or ASD. ⋯ Most studies reported adverse effects from aripiprazole in the form of weight gain, increased appetite, sedation, tiredness, drooling and tremor. However, aripiprazole improved serum prolactin level in some participants and overall did not show any adverse effect on QTc interval. There is a need for more carefully designed RCTs into the use of aripiprazole in the management of PB in people with ID/DD and/or ASD, which should be carried out independent of pharmaceutical companies.
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The management of problem behaviours (PB) in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), developmental disabilities (DD) and/or autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) can be challenging. Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed where other strategies have failed. A systematic review (SR) was conducted to establish the research evidence for the efficacy of aripiprazole in the management of PB in adults and children with ID, DD and/or ASD. ⋯ Most studies reported adverse effects from aripiprazole in the form of weight gain, increased appetite, sedation, tiredness, drooling and tremor. However, aripiprazole improved serum prolactin level in some participants and overall did not show any adverse effect on QTc interval. There is a need for more carefully designed RCTs into the use of aripiprazole in the management of PB in people with ID/DD and/or ASD, which should be carried out independent of pharmaceutical companies.
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Review Meta Analysis
Parent inclusion in early intensive behavior interventions for young children with ASD: a synthesis of meta-analyses from 2009 to 2011.
This paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of six meta-analyses of early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI) for young children with autism spectrum disorders published from 2009 to 2011. Analysis was conducted in three steps to account for different formats of treatment delivery and the extent to which parents took part in treatment. The three components of the synthesis were (a) descriptive analysis, (b) effect size analysis, and (c) mediator analysis via partial correlation and linear regressions. ⋯ Although favorable effects were apparent across comparative studies, analysis by type of delivery format revealed that EIBI programs that include parents in treatment provision are more effective. Mediator analyses suggest that treatment variables and child characteristics impact program effectiveness when accounting for the extent of parent inclusion. Clinical implications toward individualized treatment tailoring are discussed.
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Leisure participation has been associated with happiness and well-being in children. Individuals born preterm are at greater risk for motor, cognitive and behavioral difficulties which may contribute to difficulties participating in leisure activities. This systematic review examined the current knowledge on participation in leisure activities in individuals born preterm throughout the lifespan as compared to term born controls. ⋯ In adolescents, leisure scores in social activities, hobbies and sports were statistically significantly lower compared to controls. In young adults, differences in frequency and intensity of physical activity were reported compared to term controls. Promoting participation in leisure activities should be encouraged at a young age and continued to adulthood by minimizing the gaps between capabilities and the demands of the tasks and the environment.
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Leisure participation has been associated with happiness and well-being in children. Individuals born preterm are at greater risk for motor, cognitive and behavioral difficulties which may contribute to difficulties participating in leisure activities. This systematic review examined the current knowledge on participation in leisure activities in individuals born preterm throughout the lifespan as compared to term born controls. ⋯ In adolescents, leisure scores in social activities, hobbies and sports were statistically significantly lower compared to controls. In young adults, differences in frequency and intensity of physical activity were reported compared to term controls. Promoting participation in leisure activities should be encouraged at a young age and continued to adulthood by minimizing the gaps between capabilities and the demands of the tasks and the environment.