PSY2004 SEMESTER 2 - WEEK 6

Question 1

whats ratio of men:women in ASD

Answer 1

4:1

Question 2

summarise female protective effect

Answer 2

females possess biolog resilience against ASD (genetic, hormonal etc) and require higher load of genes/environ risk factors to have diagnosis of autism

Question 3

name 4 protective factors in female protective effect

Answer 3

x chromosome
oestrogen
foetal testosterone exposure
variations in brain connectivity

Question 4

explain x chromosomes as protective factors in female protective effect

Answer 4

females have extra copy of genes on x chromosome, so if 1 has mutation other would compensates

Question 5

explain oestrogen as protective factors in female protective effect

Answer 5

neuroprotective properties, influence brain dev and function
reduces impact of risk factor

Question 6

explain foetal testosterone exposure as protective factors in female protective effect

Answer 6

differences in foetal testosterone exposure during prenatal development may influence brain development

Question 7

explain variations in brain connectivity as protective factors in female protective effect

Answer 7

attempting to identify brain circuits influenced by female protective effect

Question 8

whats supporting female protective effects

Answer 8

autistic women have relative-more spontan and noninherited mutation assoc with autism however comparable levels of autistic characteristic
suggest greater genetic are needed for women to hit a threshold

Question 9

what are debates over female protective effect

Answer 9

sex disparities due to protective/underdiagnosis?
complexity of GxE interaction?
importance of considering individual variability?
close genetic relative also should have more autistic gene but this has mixed evidence?
no specific protective factor actually been identified?

Question 10

outline extreme male brain theory

Answer 10

sex difference for neuroanat, neural funct, cog, beh in general population
ASC shows extreme males profile (regardless of male/female) for low empathy and high systemising

Question 11

how may animal research support in extreme male brain theory

Answer 11

foetal testosterone known from animal research to play organising role in brain development
assoc with indiv differences for eye contact, vocab dev, empathy, systemising, attention to detail, autistic traits in typically developing children

Question 12

in EMB, what does lower levels of androgens then suggest

Answer 12

a lower level of characteristic

Question 13

evidence of EMB is mostly only questionnaire. name 3 usually used

Answer 13

autism spectrum quotient (AQ)
empathising quotient (EQ)
systemising quotient (SQ)

Question 14

how does autism spectrum quotient provide evidence in EMB

Answer 14

men score higher on AQ>female

Question 15

how does SQ (systemising quotient) provide evidence for EMB

Answer 15

neurotyp male obtain higher score>female but autistics shows more extreme score

Question 16

how does EQ (empathising quotient) provide evidence for EMB

Answer 16

neurotyp female obtains higher score>male but autistic ppts low
overall, aligning with male brains extreme

Question 17

give criticisms of EMB

Answer 17

oversimplifies sex diff
questionable empathy, systemising measure
neglect sociocult factor
inconsistent neurological evidence
ignores that ASD spectrum
claim autistics not empathetics
women feel EMB dismiss that women are autistic

Question 18

in meta-analysis what is male:female ratio, high quality study, and in thos with diagnosis

Answer 18

4.2:1
in high quality study = 3.32:1
with diagnosed= 4.56:1

Question 19

summarise “lost generation”

Answer 19

female need more additional difficulties than males to get diagnosed and receive it at older

Question 20

who discovered autism (as proposed)

Answer 20

1943, Kanner labelled different behaviours
1944 Asperger independently described it but work was not recog until later

Question 21

who ‘really’ discovered autism, in 1925

Answer 21

sukhareva - nearly 100 yr before that of DSM, saw rooted in brain dev at time when controversial refrigerator theory popular
launched schools to give students social/motor skill train
focus on female case studies

Question 22

why was Sukhareva (1925) only now given recognition

Answer 22

only small fraction of Russian research translated into other languages than German
suppression = she was Jewish

Question 23

why was Kanner/Aspergers work not great

Answer 23

only mae ppt, missing female presentation and diagnosis

Question 24

what was Wing later influence on autism diagnosis, including a spectrum

Answer 24

hypothesised some autistic girls without intellectual dis missed in clinical asses - related to having better socio-communc abil than male
case studies of learning soc beh from TV
“nature never draws line without smudging it”

Question 25

explain diff between men/women on social relationships

Answer 25

less soc impairment however greater desires of social connec struggle with complexities of social interaction diffic maintaining friendship, navig social cues, handling social conflict and harder maintain long-term rel than male

Question 26

why may repetitive interests stereotype result in underdiagnosis

Answer 26

interests more socially acceptable animals, literature, celebrities with mechanical vs relational type of interest may be considered more age and gender appropriate for females, so not reported unusual and interest is seen more appropriate, so create fewer difficulties

Question 27

how many internalising problems result in underdiagnosis of girls

Answer 27

inward emot diffic (anx, depr, SH, ED) whereas externalising disorders (male- aggression, social issues, disruptive behaviour) at school = referral and help

Question 28

whats social camouflaging

Answer 28

hiding/masks beh in order to fit in engaged in more why women have underdiagnosis

Question 29

what may masking involve

Answer 29

suppress phys characteristic (hand flapping, scripted question response, facial expression imitation) stay close to other girl, avoid standing out, adapting to school environment

Question 30

how can masking account for variability in ASD womens presentations

Answer 30

high pressure situations (school) feel high pressure to socially fit so adapts behaviours, at home lower pressure

Question 31

Hull (2017) qualitative study of social camouflaging in ASC, what was found

Answer 31

higher in women with slight diff in men v. small diff for NB

Question 32

name qualitative methods of research into social camouflaging in women

Answer 32

- interview with mothers= mimics peers social interest to reduce autistic characteristic - girls interviews = coping strategies

Question 33

give consequences of camouflaging

Answer 33

physical and emotional exhaustion needing time for recovering issue with identities

Question 34

summarise the discrepancy approach of measuring autism

Answer 34

diff between core difficulties and beh autistic presentation in specific situat female higher camofl discrep score, assoc with greater activation of ventromedial PFC in response to self-representations

Question 35

name strengths and weaknesses for discrepancy approach

Answer 35

operationalised, comparison between group, measure diff method/beh however hard to measure internal traits, misinterpretations

Question 36

summarise observational/reflective approach of measuring autism

Answer 36

direct identificate camoflaging beh through observ and reflec quantified without need of measure of internal characteris

Question 37

give strengths of observational/reflective approach

Answer 37

allow comparison, measure behaviour regardless of how successful and not reliant on proxy measures of internal status

Question 38

state 2 measures of autistic trait

Answer 38

camoflaging autistic traits questionnaire (CAT-Q) social masking subscale of the questionnaire for autism spectrum conditions (Q-ASC) - parent reports

Question 39

what are future advancements in autistic measuring

Answer 39

focus when and how camouflaging develop first include non-binary some are positive, beneficial however other strategies can damage SE

Question 40

what are outcomes of receiving diagnosis on lost generation

Answer 40

increased self compassion, agency, self acceptance, understanding period of learning + self-discovery relief, resolution, validation confidence, freedom, strong sense of self improving rels through communication + understanding

Question 41

how many women with ADHD not diagnosed

Answer 41

half-3/4

Question 42

explain gender diff in ADHD diagnosing

Answer 42

boys 13.2%, girls are 5.6% with girls usually 5 yr later

Question 43

explain gender diff for ADHD diagnosing in men+women

Answer 43

highly comorb with anx, depr which masks ADHD symptoms/idea of beh from early 1970s studies more applic to boys 3 subtypes- girls more inattentive but boys hyperactive and impulsive however most girls with clinical diagnosis are hyperactive/impul meaning those missing criteria are then misse