• 재활치료과학
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.9-21
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• 2018

목적 : 본 연구는 국외 학술지를 대상으로 체계적인 문헌고찰을 통해 자폐스펙트럼장애(autism spectrum disorder, ASD)아동들을 대상으로 사용되는 조기 중재 방법의 효과를 확인하는 것이었다. 연구방법 : 2017년 12월 이전까지의 국외 학술지에 게재된 논문을 Pubmed를 통하여 검색하였다. 주요 검색어로는 'autism', 'autism spectrum disorder', 'ASD', 'high function autism', 'high function ASD', 'Asperger syndrome', 'pervasive developmental disorder', 'PDDNOS', 'intervention'과 'early intervention'를 사용하였다. 최초 검색된 논문은 724편이었으나 포함 및 배제기준을 적용하여 최종 10편의 연구가 선정되었다. 결과 : 자폐스펙트럼장애 아동의 조기 중재는 10편의 선정된 연구 중에서 8편의 연구가 응용행동분석에 기초한 중재 프로그램을 적용하였고, 다른 2편의 연구들은 감각 통합적 접근과 테크놀로지에 기반을 둔 중재접근을 사용하였다. 대부분의 연구가 조기 중재로 의사소통기술과 사회적 상호작용기술, 지능, 적응 행동의 증가, 동시집중력의 향상과 같은 긍정적인 효과를 보고하였다. 결론 : 본 연구는 자폐스펙트럼장애 아동의 조기 중재에 대한 근거를 제시하며, 향후 국내 연구에서 효과적인 조기 중재에 대한 효과를 확인하는 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.39-43
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• 2024

This article describes common comorbid condtion of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and recommends treatment guidelines of pharmacotherapy for patients with ASD. More than 95% of people with ASD have at least one additional disorder and guidelines how to evaluate and treat comorbid conditions in patients with ASD and 7 recommendations for treatment with medication for ASD.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.238-243
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• 2022

Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral syndrome characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction, and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The gene encoding Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is one of a few exceptional genes of established causal effect in ASD. Although genetically engineered mice studies may shed light on how MeCP2 loss affects synaptic activity patterns across the whole brain, such studies are not considered practical in ASD patients due to the overall level of impairment, and are technically challenging in mice. For the first time, we show that hippocampal MeCP2 knockdown produces behavioral abnormalities associated with autism-like traits in rats, providing a new strategy to investigate the efficacy of therapeutics in ASD. Ketamine, an N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocker, has been proposed as a possible treatment for autism. Using the MeCP2 knockdown rats in conjunction with a rat model of valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD, we examined gene expression and ASD behaviors upon ketamine treatment. We report that the core symptoms of autism in MeCP2 knockdown rats with social impairment recovered dramatically following a single treatment with ketamine.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.8-14
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• 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous developmental disorder characterized by impairments in two core areas: 1) social communication and interaction and 2) restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors and interests. In general, ASD is known to be a lifelong disorder. Follow-up studies from childhood to adulthood have reported that the severity of the key symptoms ASD decreases over time. However, chronic health problems including mental health occur in many patients with ASD. The prevalence of ASD has increased from around 0.04% in the 1970s to 2.8% at present. The average age of diagnosis in developed countries is 38-120 months of age. Recent evidence suggests that biological factors which include genetic, congenital, immunological, neuroanatomical, biochemical, and environmental ones are important in causing autism. Until now, early signs and various risk factors of ASD have been suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.112-116
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• 2023

Numerous films and TV series worldwide have depicted characters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and savant skills. This study describes the portrayal of ASD and savant skills in Korean films and dramas. Starting with the 2005 film Marathon, characters with ASD have been featured in five films and four dramas. Most portrayals were based on the diagnostic criteria and pathogenesis of ASD, as outlined in the DSM-5. Of the 10 characters with ASD in these films and dramas, seven were male and three were female, with seven of them possessing savant skills. In the future, caution and guidance on the general characteristics of ASD from experts should be provided with the release of ASD-based films and TV dramas in Korea; in addition, critiques and social discourse pertinent to the reality of ASD should be provided by people with ASD, their families, and relevant experts.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2015

연구목적 지난 20년 동안 아동에 있어 과체중(overweight)의 유병률이 증가하였다. 또한 자폐스펙트럼장애(Autism spectrum disorder, ASD)를 진단 받는 아동의 숫자도 매해 증가하고 있다. ASD를 진단받은 아동의 비만(obesity)에 대한 연구가 미국에서는 활발하게 이루어지고 있으나, 한국에서는 많은 연구가 수행되지는 않았다. 따라서 이 연구의 목적은 ASD를 지닌 아동의 과체중 및 비만의 유병률 및 실태를 알아보고자 한다. 방 법 2012년부터 2015년까지의 3세에서 18세 사이의 소아 청소년을 대상으로 대전 건양대학교병원 정신건강의학과 외래에 내원한 소아 청소년 환자의 의무기록을 조사하였다. 각각의 의무기록으로부터 진단적, 의학적, 인구학적 정보를 추출하였다. 신체질량지수인 Body mass index(BMI)는 병원에서 시행하여 의무기록에 기입되어 있는 키와 체중으로 토대로 계산 하였다. 나이와 성별을 보정한 BMI z-score을 사용하였다. 결 과 ASD를 지닌 아동 군에서 ASD를 지니지 않은 군보다 더 높은 BMI 값을 가지고 있으며, 이는 통계적으로 유의하였다(p=0.032). 또한 ASD를 지닌 아동들이 ASD를 지니지 않은 아동에 비해 비교적 더욱 과체중 및 비만인 것으로 나타났다. 유병률에 있어서는 ASD가 있는 아동(35%)이 ASD가 없는 아동(19%)에 비해 과체중 및 비만인 것으로 간주되었다. 결 론 ASD를 지닌 아동과 지니지 않은 대상에 대한 과체중 및 비만에 관한 연구로서, ASD를 지닌 아동이 그렇지 않은 군에 비해 더욱 과체중 및 비만을 지니고 있음을 보여주었다. 향후 ASD 비만에 대한 유발 및 보호인자에 대한 장기적이고 심화된 연구가 필요하겠다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제64권10호
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• pp.538-542
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• 2021

Background: The relationship between small for gestational age (SGA) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) remains unknown. Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between SGA and the risk of ASD. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to November 2020. The heterogeneity across studies was explored using the I² statistic. The possibility of publication bias was assessed using Begg test. The results were reported using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model. Results: The literature search yielded 824 articles with 8,752,138 participants. We assessed the association between SGA and the risk of ASD in cohort and case-control studies. Based on the random-effects model, compared with SGA, the estimated OR of the risk of ASD was 1.17 (95% CI, 1.09-1.24). Therefore, there was a significant association between SGA and the risk of ASD. Conclusion: Based on OR reports in epidemiological studies, we showed that SGA is a risk factor for and can increase the risk of ASD. The association between SGA and ASD risk has further relevance to the current public health emphasis on appropriate prepregnancy weight and pregnancy weight gain.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제64권6호
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• pp.286-292
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• 2021

Background: The effect of exposure to environmental factors on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially during pregnancy, is unclear. Purpose: This meta-analysis investigated the association between exposure to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy and ASD risk among children. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest for articles published through September 2019. Random-effects models were used to examine the association among studies using pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). I2 tests were used to measure interstudy heterogeneity. Results: The pooled OR indicated a significant association between PCB and pesticide exposure during pregnancy and ASD risk among children (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.26-2.34; and OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.39), respectively. Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicate that exposure to pesticides and PCBs during pregnancy may affect the risk of ASD among children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제63권9호
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• pp.368-372
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• 2020

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impairments in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication. Purpose: Determine the association between use of assisted reproduction technology (ART) and the risk of ASD among children. Methods: This case-control study included 300 participants (100 cases, 200 controls). The control group included women with a child aged 2-10 years without ASD, while the cases were women with a child aged 2-10 years with ASD. We used a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Stata ver. 14 at the 0.05 significance level. Results: In the univariate analysis, there was significant association between child sex, delivery mode, history of preterm delivery, history of using ART, and maternal age at child's birth and the risk of ASD. After the adjustment for other variables, this association was significant for male sex (2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-4.31; P=0.001) and history of using ART (4.03; 95% CI, 1.76-9.21; P=0.001). Therefore, after the adjustment for confounder variables, there was no significant association between ART and the risk of ASD among children (4.98; 95% CI, 0.91-27.30; P=0.065). Conclusion: After the adjustment for other variables, risk factors for ASD were male sex and history preterm delivery. Thus, there was no significant association between ART and the risk of ASD among children.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.275-281
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• 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in social communication/interaction and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. ASD is a relatively common psychiatric disorder, with a prevalence of approximately 1.7% in children. Although many children and adolescents with ASD visit the hospital for medical help for emotional and behavioral problems such as mood instability and self-harming behavior, there are also many visits for sleep disturbances such as insomnia and sleep resistance. Sleep disturbances are likely to increase fatigue and daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, negatively impact on daytime functioning, and pose challenges in controlling anger and aggressive behavior. Sleep disturbance in children and adolescents with ASD negatively affects the quality of life, nothing to say the quality of life of their families and school members. In this review, sleep disturbances that are common in children and adolescents with ASD and adolescents are presented. The developmental and behavioral impacts of sleep disturbances in ASD were also considered. Finally, non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with ASD and adolescents are reviewed.