Midiendo el espectro de los trastornos del lenguaje a los trastornos del espectro autista: Consenso Latinoamericano Delphi Modificado / Measuring the spectrum from language disorders to autism spectrum disorders: modified Delphi Latin American Consensus

INTRODUCCIÓN: Existen diferentes posturas en cuanto a la delimitación entre los trastornos del lenguaje y de la comunicación; sobre todo al acuñar las definiciones, sus limitantes y particularmente poder medir los pronósticos y diferentes procesos a lo largo del neurodesarrollo. El presente consenso busca unir las diferentes visiones de la región latinoamericana sobre los Trastornos del Desarrollo del Lenguaje (TDL) y Trastornos del Espectro Autista (TEA), homologar taxonomías y evolución a lo largo de los primeros años de vida. MÉTODO: Se realizó un estudio Delphi Modificado para llegar a un consenso sobre la definición más adecuada y diagnóstico temprano de los TDL y TEA. RESULTADOS: Un total de 34 profesionales de 11 países de la región aceptaron la invitación para participar en el consenso e incluyó a distintos especialistas a cargo del cuidado de estos pacientes. Se realizaron dos rondas de evaluación llegando a un acuerdo y consenso en todos los ítems. CONCLUSIONES: El término "Riesgo para Trastornos de la Comunicación y del Lenguaje" es creado para referirse a los niños que no caen en ninguna categoría diagnóstica en etapas tempranas del desarrollo. Consideramos que tanto el uso de este término como el del resto de los mismos, alcanzados por consenso, permitirá coincidir en distintos puntos para la caracterización del TDL y TEA, todo ello contribuirá a evaluar de forma más específica cuáles son las intervenciones adecuadas que mejoren el pronóstico y modifiquen las trayectorias del desarrollo de esta población en nuestra región.

INTRODUCTION: There are different points of view regarding the delimitation between language and communication disorders; especially when establishing the definitions, their limitations and above all being able to measure prognoses and different processes throughout neurodevelopment. The present consensus seeks to unify the different points of view of the Latin American region on Language Development Disorders (LDD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), standardize the taxonomies and evolution throughout the first years of life. METHOD: A Modified Delphi study was carried out to reach a consensus on the most adequate definition and early diagnosis of TDL and ASD. RESULTS: A total of 34 professionals from 11 countries in the region accepted the invitation to participate in the consensus and included different specialists in charge of the care of these patients. Two rounds of evaluation were carried out, reaching an agreement and consensus on all items. CONCLUSIONS: The term "Risk for Communication and Language Disorders" is created to refer to children who do not fall into any diagnostic category in early stages of development. We consider that using this term as well as the rest of the terms reached by consensus in the present work will allow to match in different points for the characterization of TDL and ASD, this will contribute to a more specific evaluation regarding the appropriate interventions to improve prognosis and modify development trajectories of this population in our region.

Comunicação Alternativa para Alunos com Autismo na Escola: uma Revisão da Literatura / Alternative Communication for Students with Autism at School: a Literature Review

RESUMO: Estudos meta-analíticos e descritivos conduzidos nas últimas décadas têm demonstrado a efetividade da Comunicação Alternativa e Ampliada (CAA) para pessoas com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA). A maior parte dessas investigações tem focado, contudo, na efetividade clínica da CAA sem atentar para os aspectos pragmáticos da comunicação assistida em contextos não estruturados, como a escola. O objetivo desta investigação foi ampliar, por meio de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, o acervo de pesquisas tratadas em revisões anteriores e, assim, analisar os contextos em que a CAA foi utilizada com educandos com TEA na escola regular. Para isso, foi realizada uma busca no portal de periódicos da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) e no catálogo eletrônico de teses e dissertações dessa mesma agência com termos previamente definidos. As oito pesquisas encontradas, publicadas entre 2015 e 2018, incluíram participantes entre 3 e 12 anos de idade que utilizavam sistemas assistidos de comunicação, sendo predominantes as pranchas/álbuns de CAA ou pictogramas avulsos. Todos os estudos foram conduzidos na sala de aula regular e/ou nas Salas de Recursos Multifuncionais, mas dois deles incluíram o ambiente domiciliar. A despeito do uso da CAA em contextos naturais envolver interlocutores conhecidos, foram identificadas lacunas em aspectos pragmáticos da comunicação dos educandos. Observou-se a predominância da comunicação imperativa, a qual focava primordialmente nos comportamentos pragmáticos de solicitação. Embora limitações tenham sido identificadas, os estudos revelaram resultados positivos sobre o uso da CAA para alunos com TEA.

ABSTRACT: Meta-analytical and descriptive studies conducted in recent decades have demonstrated the effectiveness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Most of these investigations have focused, however, on the clinical effectiveness of AAC without considering pragmatic aspects of assisted communication in unstructured contexts, such as schools. Te aim of this investigation was to expand, through an integrative literature review, the current body of research, analyzing the contexts where AAC was used with students with ASD in regular schools. In this sense, a search was carried out on the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) journals portal and on the electronic catalog of theses and dissertations of this same agency with previously defined terms Te eight studies found, published between 2015 and 2018, included participants between 3 and 12 years of age who used assisted communication systems, primarily AAC boards and picture cards. All studies were conducted in the regular classroom and / or Multifunctional Resource Rooms, but two included the home environment. Despite the use of AAC in natural contexts, involving known interlocutors, gaps were identified in pragmatic aspects of student communication. Tere was a predominance of imperative communication, focusing primarily on pragmatic solicitation behaviors. Despite the limitations identified, the studies revealed positive results on the use of AAC for students with ASD.

Prefrontal gray matter volume in adults bipolar I outpatients is associated with history of suicide attempts?

ABSTRACT Background: Patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) have the highest lifetime risk for suicidal behavior (SB) compared to other psychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging research provides evidence of some structural and functional abnormalities in the brain of BD suicide attempters (SA), but interpretation of these findings may represent a number of features. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the volume of the prefrontal cortex in euthymic BD type I outpatients, with and without history of SA. Methods: 36 euthymic BD I outpatients (18 with and 18 without suicide attempt history) were underwent structural MRI and total and regional gray matter volumes were assessed and compared with 22 healthy controls (HC). Results: We did not found any differences in all areas between suicidal and non-suicidal BD I patients and BD patients as a group compared to HC as well. Discussion: our findings suggest that can be a different subgroups of patients in relation to prefrontal cortex volumes according to some clinical and socio-demographic caractheristics, such as number of previous episodes and continuous use of medical psychotropic drugs that may induce neuroplasticity phenomena, which restore cerebral volume and possibly can lead to long-term euthymia state.

Pragmatic Language and Schizophrenia: Interpretation of Metaphors

ABSTRACT Background: Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic psychiatric disorder with significant cognitive deficits, which are considered structural markers for the disease. Language disturbances have an important role in patients' social functioning and interpersonal relationships. Objectives: Evaluate the capacity to understand pragmatic language in schizophrenic patients, through the comprehension of non-literal meaning in metaphors and the ability to use contextual clues to better understand their meanings. Methods: Thirty patients were evaluated using Abbreviated Intelligence Scale (WASI), Interpretation of Metaphors subtest of the Montreal Communication Evaluation Battery (MAC). Results: The linear regression model showed that schizophrenic patients presented below average performance in the interpretation of metaphors task, with tendency to concrete interpretations. Variables such as IQ, WASI Vocabulary subtest and years since onset influenced the patients' pragmatic language skills. This relation was not found for family history. Existence of the metaphor in native colloquial language (Portuguese) and being given alternatives to choose from, enhanced patients' performance. Discussion: Results corroborate findings regarding this population's difficulties in the language cognitive domain. Development of interventions aiming comprehension of pragmatic language could help ease patients' social difficulties, especially if started early at onset. Also, better understanding of this deficit can help create rehabilitation strategies.

Clinical Implications of Social Communication Disorder

Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) is a new diagnosis included under communication disorders in the neurodevelopmental disorders section of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. SCD is defined as a primary deficit in the social use of nonverbal and verbal communication. SCD has very much in common with pragmatic language impairment, which is characterized by difficulties in understanding and using language in context and following the social rules of language, despite relative strengths in word knowledge and grammar. SCD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are similar in that they both involve deficits in social communication skills, however individuals with SCD do not demonstrate restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, insistence on sameness, or sensory abnormalities. It is essential to rule out a diagnosis of ASD by verifying the lack of these additional symptoms, current or past. The criteria for SCD are qualitatively different from those of ASD and are not equivalent to those of mild ASD. It is clinically important that SCD should be differentiated from high-functioning ASD (such as Asperger syndrome) and nonverbal learning disabilities. The ultimate goals are the refinement of the conceptualization, development and validation of assessment tools and interventions, and obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the shared and unique etiologic factors for SCD in relation to those of other neurodevelopmental disorders.