In the present phenomenological study, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were interviewed using semi-structured, open-ended interview questions. The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors and joys, and parental coping associated with having a child with ASD, before and after out-of-home placement. A total of 9 mothers, six from British Columbia and three from Alberta, participated in the study. The findings suggest that along with stressors, parents experienced a multitude of joys throughout their caregiving experiences. Also, joys had an impact on caregiver's stress-coping process. This study, therefore, expanded upon current states of knowledge on the adaptational function of joys to caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions. In light of the findings, modified stress-coping process model based on the work of Lazarus and Folkman (1984), Folkman (1997), and Pearlin et al. (1990; 1980) is proposed. Also, findings shed light on mothers' lived-experiences leading up to and after out-of-home placement, illuminating an understudied aspect of caregiving for children with ASD.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-73). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.95-102).

Thesis (PH.D.)--Michigan State University. Psychology, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 11, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p.155-164). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: Lisa A. Dieker. Includes bibliographical references (p. 174-188).

In the present phenomenological study, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were interviewed using semi-structured, open-ended interview questions. The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors and joys, and parental coping associated with having a child with ASD, before and after out-of-home placement. A total of 9 mothers, six from British Columbia and three from Alberta, participated in the study. The findings suggest that along with stressors, parents experienced a multitude of joys throughout their caregiving experiences. Also, joys had an impact on caregiver's stress-coping process. This study, therefore, expanded upon current states of knowledge on the adaptational function of joys to caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions. In light of the findings, modified stress-coping process model based on the work of Lazarus and Folkman (1984), Folkman (1997), and Pearlin et al. (1990; 1980) is proposed. Also, findings shed light on mothers' lived-experiences leading up to and after out-of-home placement, illuminating an understudied aspect of caregiving for children with ASD.

Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can have a devastating impact on an individual’s functioning and quality of life. Insights from pre-clinical models of monogenic forms of ID and ASD are now revealing the biochemical pathways and aberrations in cellular and synaptic functioning involved. One monogenic cause of ID, ASD and epilepsy is SYNGAP1 ID which results from mutations in the SYNGAP1 gene on human chromosome 6. Although a variety of symptoms have been reported, many affected individuals have moderate to severe intellectual impairment and severe seizure phenotypes. Previous pre-clinical studies have mainly focussed on the effects of altered SynGAP expression in mice. This thesis is therefore the first to explore altered SynGAP expression in a rat model. It also adds to the body of research exploring the roles of SynGAP isoforms in glutamatergic synaptic function. The SynGAP_GAP deletion rat was engineered to have a deletion encompassing the enzymatically active GTPase activating protein (GAP) domain of the protein, via which SynGAP regulates multiple biochemical pathways by enhancing the slow intrinsic hydrolysis of GTP by GTP-binding proteins. SyngapGAP/GAP rats appeared small and failed to thrive. As with Syngap-/- mice, this complete loss of WT SynGAP proved lethal, whereas Syngap+/GAP rats appeared to develop normally. The electrophysiological data obtained from this new model reveals a reduction in the frequency of miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents (mEPSCs) in Syngap+/GAP cultured neurons. However the exaggerated hippocampal long-term depression identified in Syngap+/- mice was not seen in the rats. There was also no evidence of differences in intrinsic cell properties, excitatory and inhibitory currents or ratios of AMPAR / GABAAR and AMPAR / NMDAR between WT and heterozygous rats. In addition to the characterisation of the SynGAP_GAP deletion rat, the impact of the previously unstudied Eα1 isoform on forebrain neuronal synaptic function was examined through mEPSC recordings. A trend towards lower mEPSC frequency was found which supports previous research showing that α1 isoforms reduce synaptic strength. This body of work therefore adds to published evidence of isoform specific functions and provides the first evidence of the impact of SynGAP alterations in rats, the results of which show some intriguing differences from previous work in mice.

Orientador: Olga Maria Piazentim Rolim Rodrigues / Banca: Silvia Regina Ricco L. Sigolo / Banca: Ana Lúcia Rossito Aiello / Resumo: Por meio do convívio diário, os irmãos podem adquirir habilidades sociais e cognitivas fundamentais para o desenvolvimento social saudável. As contingências que configuram estas relações podem ser diferentes daquelas a que estão submetidos irmãos de crianças com desenvolvimento normal ou irmãos de indivíduos com outros tipos de deficiência, o que justifica estudos envolvendo interações entre irmãos de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autístico (TEA). O acervo de investigações desenvolvidas na área, apesar de mostrar inconsistência de resultados, destacou, também, a relevância atribuída aos estudos envolvendo interações entre irmãos de crianças com algum tipo de deficiência. O objetivo precípuo deste estudo consistiu em avaliar, através de relato verbal, as habilidades sociais e as interações familiares de crianças que possuem um irmão com TEA, buscando investigar a influência do convívio com um irmão especial, comparando com crianças que possuem um irmão com desenvolvimento típico. Participaram do trabalho 10 crianças com idades entre sete e 12 anos, de ambos os sexos, as quais foram divididas em dois grupos: 1) indivíduos com desenvolvimento típico que têm um irmão com TEA e, 2) indivíduos com desenvolvimento típico que têm irmãos sem nenhuma deficiência diagnosticada. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizados: Formulário de Informações sobre a Família, Formulário de Informações sobre o irmão com TEA (GOMES, 2003), Inventário de Rede de Relações (SCHWERTZ, 1994) e IMHSC (DEL PRETTE; DEL PRETTE, 2005). Os resultados demonstraram que tanto as crianças do Grupo 1 quanto as do Grupo 2 eram habilidosas socialmente quando comparadas à média geral da população, embora o Grupo 2 tenha apresentado escores um pouco mais alto do que o Grupo 1. Os dados referentes ao Inventário de Rede de Relações mostrou... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Through daily living siblings may acquire social and cognitive skills that are essential to a healthy social development. The contingencies that constitute these relations may be different from those that siblings of children with normal development or siblings of individuals with other types deficiences are submitted to, what justifies studies involving interaction among siblings of children with Austism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The lot of investigation developed in the area, despite showing inconsistency of results, also highlights the relevance given to studies involving interactions among siblings of children with some type of deficiency. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate, through oral description, the social skills of children that have a sibling with ASD, trying to investigate whether the living with such child interferes in the acquisition of their social skills. 10 children ranging from seven to 12 years-old, of both sexes, have taken part in the study; they were dividided in two groups: 1) individuals with typical development that have a sibling sith ASD and, 2) individuals with typical development that have siblings without any diagnosed deficiency. For data collection the following was used: form of information about the family, form of information about the sibling with Autism Spectrum Disorders (GOMES, 2003), network of relationship inventory (SCHWERTZ, 1994) and multimedia list of children social skills - Del Prette - SMHSC (DEL PRETTE; DEL PRETTE, 2005). The results disclosed that both children in group 1 and in group 2 were socially skilled if compared to the general average of the population, though group 2 has presented little higher scores than group 1. The data referring to the network of relationship inventory have disclosed that children of both groups could identify more positive than negative aspects in their relationship with family members... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Given the limited empirical evidence to guide support for romantic functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this research aims to explore how closeness is managed in romantic relationships when one member is diagnosed with ASD. 8 participants, 3 couples and 2 individuals aged between 26 and 80 took part in the study. Of these 5 (3 male and 2 female) were autistic and 3 (1 male and 2 females were non-autistic). Participants were recruited using a specialist nationwide organization and they were interviewed individually or conjointly, as well as observed during a 15- minute interaction. Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyse the data and a framework was produced to describe processes of managing closeness in ASD. The core concept to emerge from the analysis was entitled “reaching towards the unknown”. It consisted of three categories, termed “encountering the other”, “reaching for understanding” and “managing uncertainty”. The framework captured processes of joining with and adapting to someone very different, of stretching beyond familiar bounds in order to understand the other and manage uncertainty. This research offers an inter-subjective perspective of ASD. It frames socio-emotional reciprocity and adaptability within romantic relationships as relational phenomena, which are contingent upon factors outlined within the framework. The model considers pre-existing theories about romantic closeness in order to assist counselling psychologists in accommodating ASD within their couple therapy practice.

A presente dissertação visa investigar as convergências e divergências apresentadas pelas diversas partes interessadas no processo atual de formulação e revisão das políticas públicas para o autismo no Brasil. Para tal, realizamos uma análise documental crítica acerca de duas cartilhas institucionais, lançadas recentemente pelo Ministério da Saúde, sobre a assistência ao autismo no Sistema Único de Saúde. Uma delas recebe o título de "Diretrizes de Atenção à Reabilitação da Pessoa com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA)" e aborda o transtorno como pertencente ao campo das deficiências, propondo seu tratamento sob a via da reabilitação. Outra, intitulada "Linha de Cuidado para a Atenção às Pessoas com Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo e suas Famílias na Rede de Atenção Psicossocial do Sistema Único de Saúde" apreende o autismo como um transtorno mental, pertencente ao campo de cuidados da atenção psicossocial. A divulgação de dois documentos oficiais que contemplam o tema de maneiras diferentes é ilustrativa de um aparente dissenso no rumo das políticas para tal população. Evidenciamos assim a constituição de dois grupos, aparentemente antagônicos, que disputam nas esferas políticas e assistenciais a primazia pela abordagem do fenômeno autístico. Trabalhamos com a hipótese de que foi produzida uma cisão no desenvolvimento e no subsequente entrecruzamento de três eixos de força, sendo eles: a evolução da categorização nosográfica do autismo, a participação assistencial e política das associações de pais de autistas e de outros grupos sociais e a construção das políticas públicas nacionais para a saúde mental da infância e adolescência. Analisamos tais elementos, acreditando que seu entrecruzamento nos auxilia a depreender os componentes básicos do contexto do TEA no Brasil. Por fim, a partir da análise dos documentos, é possível argumentar que, embora as divergências epistemológicas desempenhem um importante papel no dissenso em questão, estas não atuam como o principal fator do conflito, uma vez que se mostram negociáveis. Aparentemente, as controvérsias se tornaram acirradas devido a disputas políticas, por parte de diferentes grupos, em busca do protagonismo e do poder de deliberação na formulação de políticas públicas para o autismo no país.