Are there alternative adaptive strategies to human pro-sociality? The role of collaborative morality in the emergence of personality variation and autistic traits

Selection pressures to better understand other’s thoughts and feelings are seen as a primary driving force in human cognitive evolution. Yet might the evolution of social cognition be more complex than we assume, with more than one strategy towards social understanding and developing a positive pro-social reputation? Here we argue that social buffering of vulnerabilities through the emergence of collaborative morality will have opened new niches for adaptive cognitive strategies and widened personality variation. Such strategies include those that that do not depend on astute social perception or abilities to think recursively about other’s thoughts and feelings. We particularly consider how a perceptual style based on logic and detail, bringing certain enhanced technical and social abilities which compensate for deficits in complex social understanding could be advantageous at low levels in certain ecological and cultural contexts. ‘Traits of autism’ may have promoted innovation in archaeological material culture during the late Palaeolithic in the context of the mutual interdependence of different social strategies, which in turn contributed to the rise of innovation and large scale social networks

How Do We Explain ‛Autistic Traits’ in European Upper Palaeolithic Art?

Traits in Upper Palaeolithic art which are also seen in the work of talented artists with autism, including an exceptional realism, remain to be explained. Debate over explanations has been heated, ranging from such art having been created by individuals with autism spectrum conditions, to being influenced by such individuals, to being a product of the use of psychotropic drugs. Here we argue that 'autistic traits' in art, such as extreme realism, are the product of local processing bias or detail focus. The significance of local processing bias has implications for our understanding of Upper Palaeolithic society

Autism spectrum conditions affect preferences in valued personal possessions

Although autism has been characterised as a disorder certain selective advantages of autism have been identified which may represent a selective trade-off for reduced ‘folk psychology’ and provide a potential explanation for the incorporation of autism genes in the human evolutionary past. Such potential trade-off skills remain to be explored in terms of selectively advantageous or disadvantageous behaviours in the distant past however. Here we present the results of an analysis of the relationship between AQ (autism quotient) and attitudes to valued personal possessions on the basis of a study of 550 participants. We find that individuals with autism have a reduced tendency to value and preserve objects as reminders of relationships/attachment figures and place a greater value on the direct practical function of their personal possessions. The latter strategy may have been more selectively advantageous in certain contexts whilst less advantageous in others in the distant evolutionary past

Should Autism Spectrum Conditions Be Characterised in a More Positive Way in Our Modern World?

In a special issue that focuses on complex presentations related to Autism, we ask the question in this editorial whether an Autism Spectrum Condition without complexity is a disorder, or whether it represents human diversity? Much research into Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) over the years has focused on comparisons between neuro-typical people and people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. These comparisons have tended to draw attention to ‘deficits’ in cognitive abilities and descriptions of behaviours that are characterised as unwanted. Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the classification systems from the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association. Public opinion about ASC may be influenced by presentations in the media of those with ASC who also have intellectual disability. Given that diagnostic systems are intended to help us better understand conditions in order to seek improved outcomes, we propose a more constructive approach to descriptions that uses more positive language, and balances descriptions of deficits with research finding of strengths and differences. We propose that this will be more helpful to individuals on the Autism Spectrum, both in terms of individual self-view, but also in terms of how society views Autism Spectrum Conditions more positively. Commentary has also been made on guidance that has been adjusted for people with ASC in relation to the current COVID-19 pandemic

Overcoming the challenges of translating mental health instruments into sign languages

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used in CAMHS, and has been translated into over sixty spoken languages. British Sign Language (BSL) is a visuo-gestural language, and the first language of up to 50,000 deaf people in the UK. Translating diagnostic tools into BSL is important to provide valid assessment of common mental health problems in Deaf signing young people. We report the process of translation from a written language (English) into a visual language (BSL) using adapted, existing methodologies. We highlight the challenges we faced, with particular reference to the difficulties in translating for a population of signing Deaf young people, followed by suggestions of how to overcome these difficulties

Evolving the service model for child and adolescent mental health services

A new model for a community mental health service for children and young people aged 0-18 years is described. This has been formulated after multi-level consultation including extensive user/carer involvement. The proposed model is multidisciplinary and integrated with multiagency provision, with smooth access onto and through care pathways. This model brings voluntary and statutory agencies into an integrated collaboration. It reinforces that social and emotional development and psychological functioning is everybody’s business and creates conditions where a child’s needs can be addressed on a day-to-day basis rather than through a “clinic-based model”.</jats:p

Can urinary indolylacroylglycine (IAG) levels be used to determine whether children with autism will benefit from dietary intervention? : Autism, gastrointestinal problems and IAG

BACKGROUND: An increase in urinary indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAG) has been reported in children with ASD who suffer with bowel problems in comparison to ASD children without gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The case for dietary intervention for ASD children with GI symptoms might be strengthened were such a difference to be autism-specific. METHODS: Quantitative analysis of urinary IAG levels was performed for 53 children on the autism spectrum and 146 age-matched controls. The parents of each child were asked to provide information on bowel symptoms experienced by the child and their eating habits over a period of two weeks. RESULTS: We find no significant difference in urinary IAG levels between the ASD children with GI problems and ASD children without GI problems. Although we see some difference between ASD children with GI problems and controls in mainstream schools with GI problems, the difference between non-autistic children with other developmental disorders and controls in mainstream schools is more significant so that any difference is not autism-specific. We find a strong correlation between bowel symptoms and diet problems in ASD children, especially idiosyncratic feeding behavior and we show that ASD children suffering from multiple bowel symptoms tend to be those who also have dietary problems. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that children with ASD who suffer with bowel problems have increased levels of urinary indolyl-3-acryloylglycine in comparison to children with ASD who do not have gastrointestinal problems

Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders in Deaf Children Using Two Standardised Assessment Instruments : The ADIR-Deaf Adaptation and the ADOS-2 Deaf Adaptation

The aim was to investigate the agreement between the ADI-R Deaf adaptation and ADOS-2 Deaf adaptation overall diagnostic categorisation for autism (AUT) and a wider threshold to include autism spectrum (ASD) in a cohort of deaf children with and without ASD. We compared results of the instruments used on their own and when combined and propose standard criteria for the combined use of the ADI-R Deaf adaptation and ADOS-2 Deaf adaptation for use with deaf children. In total, 116 deaf children had a Gold standard NICE guideline assessment; 58 diagnosed with ASD and 58 without ASD, and for both groups a blinded informant based ADI-R Deaf adaptation and direct assessment using the ADOS-2 Deaf adaptation were separately completed. There was moderate agreement between the ADI-R Deaf adaptation and ADOS-2 Deaf adaptation for the wider threshold of ASD (Kappa, 0.433). To achieve the lowest number of false negatives, the most successful assessment tool approach is using the wider threshold of ASD with either ADI-R Deaf adaptation or ADOS-2-Deaf adaptation (95% sensitivity). This compares with 88% for the ADI-R Deaf adaptation alone and 74% for the ADOS-2-Deaf adaptation alone (wider threshold of ASD). To achieve a low number of false positives, the most successful assessment tool approach is a combination of ADI-R Deaf adaptation and ADOS-2- Deaf adaptation (using the narrow threshold of autism for both) (95% specificity). This compares with 83% for the ADI-R Deaf adaptation alone and 81% for the ADOS-2-Deaf adaptation (narrow threshold) alone. This combination is therefore recommended in specialist clinics for diagnostic assessment in deaf children.</jats:p