Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

Search

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

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

Measuring the capacity of active video games for social interaction: The Social Interaction Potential Assessment tool

The Social Interaction Potential Assessment tool can assess Active Video Games potential to facilitate social interaction among players

Research

Study protocol for the Australian autism biobank: an international resource to advance autism discovery research

The Australian Autism Biobank was initiated to establish a large-scale repository of biological samples and detailed clinical information about children diagnosed with ASD

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

Age invariance in rapid facial affective reactions to emotionally valenced stimuli

Rapid facial reactions to emotional stimuli are intact in late adulthood, even in response to stimuli that activate more automatic and implicit forms of emotion processing

Research

Reduced heart rate variability in a treatment-seeking early psychosis sample

Findings provide preliminary evidence that early psychosis is associated with reduced heart rate variability

Research

Co-occurring intellectual disability and autism: Associations with stress, coping, time use, and quality of life in caregivers

Having a child on the autism spectrum (AS) is known to impact caregiver quality of life (QoL), time use, and stress. A co-occurring diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID) is common among children on the autism spectrum, with ID itself impacting caregiver outcomes. This study sought to understand how co-occurring ID in children on the autism spectrum may influence caregiver-related outcomes. Secondary analysis of survey data from caregivers of 278 children on the autism spectrum with (n = 62) and without (n = 216) co-occurring ID was conducted, exploring impacts on caregiver QoL, stress, coping, and time-use.

Research

An investigation of adherence to best practice guidelines for autism diagnosis in New Zealand

Many clinicians in New Zealand do not follow guidelines for best practice in autism diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the processes that health professionals in New Zealand follow when diagnosing autistic children and adults. We asked 117 health professionals from a range of services and regions in New Zealand, how they identify and diagnose autism.

Research

The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI): development and validation of a new measure of autistic traits in the general population

Traits and characteristics qualitatively similar to those seen in diagnosed autism spectrum disorder can be found to varying degrees in the general population. To measure these traits and facilitate their use in autism research, several questionnaires have been developed that provide broad measures of autistic traits [e.g. Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ)]. However, since their development, our understanding of autism has grown considerably, and it is arguable that existing measures do not provide an ideal representation of the trait dimensions currently associated with autism. Our aim was to create a new measure of autistic traits that reflects our current understanding of autism, the Comprehensive Autism Trait Inventory (CATI).