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The Kids researchers awarded Raine Medical Research Foundation funding

Congratulations to Dr Gail Alvares and Dr Rachel Foong, who have been awarded funding from the Raine Medical Research Foundation.

Research

Characterizing Transdiagnostic Processes Underlying the Drive to Socially Engage: A Multimeasurement Factor Analytic Investigation

Altered drive to socially engage is a transdiagnostic feature across multiple psychopathologies. Yet, lack of clarity regarding specific processes that constitute social drive, along with insufficient measurement methods, has hindered understanding in this area. This study ascertained the feasibility of approximating difficulties within specific fine-grained social drive processes as proposed by 2 theoretical frameworks: “orienting,” “wanting,” “pursuing,” “liking,” “learning,” and “reticence” within a reward processing framework and “orienting,” “seeking and maintaining,” and “liking” within a social motivation framework.

Research

Evaluation of the Acceptability and Feasibility of the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised (SACS-R) Tool for Early Identification of Autism in Preterm Infants

Preterm birth is associated with a 3.3-fold increased likelihood of autism diagnosis, with lower gestational age conferring higher likelihood. In Australia, autism is typically diagnosed at around age four, potentially missing the optimal neuroplasticity window before age two. The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance-Revised (SACS-R) tool identifies early autism signs in children aged 11-30 months, enabling pre-emptive intervention.

Research

Does perinatal exposure to exogenous oxytocin influence child behavioural problems and autistic-like behaviours to 20 years of age

This study is the first to investigate longitudinal mental health outcomes associated with the use of oxytocin-based medications during labour

Research

A realist evaluation of peer mentoring support for university students with autism

Standard peer mentoring approaches can be enhanced to meet the needs of students with ASD by including training for mentors on ASD

Research

Effect of Fluoxetine on Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Treatment with fluoxetine compared with placebo resulted in significantly lower scores for obsessive-compulsive behaviors at 16 weeks

Research

Reduced heart rate variability in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Our data suggest an overall dysregulation in resting autonomic activity in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Research

Prenatal maternal stress events and phenotypic outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder

ASD, in the context of prenatal maternal stress exposure, may be associated with a more severe phenotype, particularly when there are multiple prenatal exposures

Research

Social impairments in autism spectrum disorder are related to maternal immune history profile

this study is the first to show an association between immune activation history in the mother and increased ASD symptom severity in children with ASD

Research

Caesarean section and risk of autism across gestational age: a multi-national cohort study of 5 million births

The positive association between caesarean section (CS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be attributed to preterm delivery.