Validation of Social Responsiveness Scale for Korean Preschool Children With Autism

Jeeyoung Chun,Guiyoung Bong,Jae Hyun Han,Miae Oh,Hee Jeong Yoo 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.9

Objective This cross-cultural study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and to determine the best-estimate-cut-off scores for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Korean preschool children.Methods A total of 563 children was recruited from multiple sources, including Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Participants were assessed by a multidisciplinary research team using multiple diagnostic tools based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Discriminative validity was tested by comparing the difference in SRS scores between ASD and non-ASD groups. Convergent validity was tested by examining correlations between SRS scores with other diagnostic instruments. A receiver operation characteristic curve analysis was conducted to test the sensitivity and specificity of SRS and to determine the best-estimate-cut-off scores for screening ASD in Korean preschool children.Results There were significant differences in the total SRS scores between the ASD (n=242) and non-ASD group (n=321) (p<0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.08–17.24). The differences were significant even after adjusting for age. SRS scores were significantly correlated with other prescreening diagnostic tools for ASD. The best-estimate cut-off score to screen ASD was 55 (area under curve=0.88, sensitivity 78.1%, specificity 86.6%).Conclusion The SRS is a valid and reliable instrument to screen and aid in the diagnosis of ASD in Korean preschool children. The adjusted cut-off scores, notably lower than in the original U.S. version, may yield a more accurate diagnosis by reflecting transcultural differences.

Descriptive Analysis of Social Interaction and Communication Skills of Autistic Children According to Sibling Status and Characteristics

Se Yeon Kim,Da-Yea Song,Guiyoung Bong,Jae Hyun Han,Hee Jeong Yoo 대한신경정신의학회 2024 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.21 No.1

Objective Sibling relationships in early childhood can have a positive impact on children’s social interaction and communication skills. Similarly, autistic children can benefit from interactions with their siblings, who can serve as readily available partners for social interaction. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of siblings based on specific characteristics of the sibling. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare social interactions and communication skills of autistic children based on sibling status and characteristics.Methods We conducted a retrospective data review involving 895 autistic children and their siblings at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Variety of diagnostic assessments or questionnaires were administered. Based on the characteristics of the data, Quade’s test for nonparametric analysis of covariance was used to compare autism-related symptoms and levels of functioning of the autistic child according to 1) sibling status, 2) birth order, 3) sex, and 4) diagnosis of the sibling. Pearson correlation was used to explore associations between the sibling age gap and different clinical scores.Results Having siblings was associated with fewer difficulties in restricted and repetitive behaviors. Based on the comparison of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised scores, autistic children with multiple siblings demonstrated better nonverbal behaviors. Autistic children with autistic siblings experienced greater difficulties in social interactions and communications, such as peer relationships, sharing enjoyment, and engaging in social imitative play.Conclusion The study revealed differences in social interactions and communication skills of autistic children based on sibling status, birth order, affected sibling, age gap, and sex.

Validating the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised in the Korean Population

Oh Miae,Song Da-Yea,Bong Guiyoung,Yoon Nan-He,Kim So Yoon,Kim Joo Hyun,Kim Jong-myeong,Yoo Hee Jeong 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.3

Objective This study aimed to examine the validity of the Korean version of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R) and determine its efficacy in identifying individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods Data were pooled from several past and ongoing studies as well as clinical records acquired at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2008 to 2017. The K-ADI-R were administered and scored by trained research reliable examiners. Measurements to investigate the validity of the K-ADI-R was through sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), and Cohen’s kappa.Results A total of 1,271 (age 88.9±62.42 months, male=927) participants were included. The K-ADI-R yielded strong psychometric properties with high sensitivity (86.06–99.27%), specificity (84.75–99.55%), PPV (92.33–99.72%), and NPV (79.43–98.64%). There were significant differences in item scores across the K-ADI-R diagnostic algorithm regardless of age and sex (p<0.001). Agreement between the K-ADI-R and other ASD related measurements ranged between levels of good to excellent.Conclusion Despite language or cultural boundaries, the K-ADI-R demonstrated high levels of sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV within a wide range of participants; hence, suggesting promising usage as a valuable diagnostic instrument for individuals with ASD.

자폐 범주성 장애 아동의 실행기능 중재 연구의 동향 및 과제

이소현(SoHyun Lee),이귀남(Kwinam Lee),봉귀영(Guiyoung Bong),이해나(Haena Lee) 한국자폐학회 2023 자폐성 장애연구 Vol.23 No.2

Executive function, a cognitive ability closely related to the core deficit areas of autism spectrum disorders, necessitates a thorough understanding of every child’s profile and provision of appropriate support. This study aimed to review the latest research trends and analyze the interventions targeting the enhancement of executive function in children with autism spectrum disorders. In accordance with the criteria, a total of 29 experimental studies were selected. An overview of general characteristics and a detailed analysis of specific intervention attributes were conducted. Executive function intervention studies among children with autism spectrum disorders have been underway since 2004, mostly in the fields of psychology and psychiatry, targeting primary school-aged children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. The most used interventions were cognitive behavioral/instructional strategies (CBIS) and exercise and movement (EXM). Notably, a high proportion of interventions were used to facilitate flexibility and inhibition subcategories of the executive function. Based on the findings, the future directions and educational implications regarding intervention aimed at enhancing executive function in children with autism spectrum disorders were discussed.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Screening and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review

Da-Yea Song,So Yoon Kim,Guiyoung Bong,Jong Myeong Kim,Hee Jeong Yoo 대한소아청소년정신의학회 2019 소아청소년정신의학 Vol.30 No.4

Objectives: The detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is based on behavioral observations. To build a more objective data-driven method for screening and diagnosing ASD, many studies have attempted to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Therefore, the purpose of this literature review is to summarize the studies that used AI in the assessment process and examine whether other behavioral data could potentially be used to distinguish ASD characteristics. Methods: Based on our search and exclusion criteria, we reviewed 13 studies. Results: To improve the accuracy of outcomes, AI algorithms have been used to identify items in assessment instruments that are most predictive of ASD. Creating a smaller subset and therefore reducing the lengthy evaluation process, studies have tested the efficiency of identifying individuals with ASD from those without. Other studies have examined the feasibility of using other behavioral observational features as potential supportive data. Conclusion: While previous studies have shown high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in classifying ASD and non-ASD individuals, there remain many challenges regarding feasibility in the real-world that need to be resolved before AI methods can be fully integrated into the healthcare system as clinical decision support systems.

State and Trait Anxiety of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Kim So Yoon,Kim Young Ah,Song Da-Yea,Bong Guiyoung,Kim Jong-myeong,Kim Joo Hyun,Yoo Hee Jeong 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.3

Objective This study examined how state and trait anxiety of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with their demographic characteristics, repetitive and restricted behaviors (RRBs), and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors.Methods A total of 96 participants with ASD (mean age=14.30 years; 91 males) completed a battery of tests including the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and a cognitive test measuring intelligence quotient (IQ). Participants’ parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Pearson’s correlations among age, IQ, two subscales of the STAI (i.e., STAIS and STAIT, measuring self-reported state and trait anxiety, respectively), and the Anxiety subscale of CBCL (i.e., CBCL-Anxiety, measuring parent-reported trait anxiety) were computed. Subsequently, Pearson’s correlations were computed among the three anxiety measures, RRBs, and problem behaviors, while controlling for participants’ age and IQ.Results The STAIS and CBCL-Anxiety were both significantly correlated with higher age, sensory sensitivity, depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, and aggressive behaviors. All three anxiety variables were significantly and positively correlated with total SRS RRB scores. Additionally, the STAIS and STAIT were significantly associated with more severe Compulsion/Adherence behaviors, and the CBCL-Anxiety was also significantly associated with more severe Rule-breaking Behaviors.Conclusion Self-reported state anxiety showed association patterns similar to those of parent-reported trait anxiety. Future studies investigating the precise operationalization of different anxiety instruments are needed to accurately measure the anxiety of adolescents with ASD.

How Do Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Encode and Reproduce Visuospatial Stimuli?: Investigation into Visuospatial Processing Abilities and Styles

Kim So Yoon,Song Da-Yea,Kim Young Ah,Bong Guiyoung,Kim Jong-myeong,Kim Joo Hyun,Yoo Hee Jeong 대한신경정신의학회 2020 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.17 No.11

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the visuospatial processing abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF).Methods One-hundred thirty-four children with ASD [mean age (MA)=113.56 months], 150 siblings of children with ASD (MA= 111.67 months), and 55 typically developing (TD) children (MA=109.02 months) were included in this study. During their one-time visit, participants completed the ROCF, various autism diagnostic assessments, and the Korean-Leiter International Performance ScaleRevised. Repeated-measures Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and post-hoc Tukey-Kramer comparisons were computed to compare the ROCF scores. Partial correlations and multiple regressions were computed to examine the association between ROCF scores and the severity of autistic symptoms, as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) among children with ASD.Results There were significant main effects of the analysis group in Structural and Incidental Accuracy, Error, and Style. More siblings than TD children drew in a part-oriented way, but the performance of the sibling group was comparable or superior to that of the TD group in all parameters. Social Interaction scores of children with ASD were significantly associated with Organization scores in Copy condition. Whether or not a child drew in the Part-Oriented style significantly predicted his/her repetitive and restricted behavior scores.Conclusion The findings add to the evidence for altered visuospatial processing patterns of ASD as a potential inherent and genetic trait and suggest that this particular cognitive style should not be considered as a deficit. Educational and theoretical implications are discussed.

깊은 신경망을 활용한 음성 기반의 자폐 스펙트럼 장애 판별에 관한 기초 연구

이정혁(Jung Hyuk Lee),이건우(Geon Woo Lee),김성주(Seong Ju Kim),봉귀영(Guiyoung Bong),유희정(Hee Jeong Yoo),김홍국(Hong Kook Kim) 한국통신학회 2020 한국통신학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2020 No.8