In the Spotlight

A Glimpse into the State of Psychiatric Research[1]

By Steven Bruce, PWDF Legal Director

April 6, 2023 – Research regarding neurodevelopment-related psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD):

1. BIOMARKERS, GENETIC VARIANTS AND RESULTNG INTERVENTION

(1)  There is a general lack of support for ASD biomarkers in ongoing research.

(2)  Seek EEG biomarker development.

(3)  To-date ASD in males compared with females reveals only that it is more common in males for unclear underlying reasons.  Also, “fewer young people with ASD have the same opportunities as their peers without ASD” including [h]igh rates of unemployment or under-employment, [l]ow participation in education beyond high school, . . . and nearly 40% spend little or no time with friends.”[2]

(4)  Rare neuro-development-related genetic variants detected in large populations are associated with ASD, ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

(5)  It is unclear which biomarkers translate to which interventions for ASD.  E.g., the face-responsive ERPs (event related potentials) are related to social phenotype variables (e.g., face memory and adaptive functioning).

2. CORRELATING GENETIC VARIANTS WITH ICD-10 DIAGNOSES

A large fraction of the identified genetic variants is nonspecific and variable as to prevalence and degree of affectedness. Only 1/3 of people with a pathogenic variant had an ICD-10 diagnosis. This study’s authors surmise most efforts to understand disease etiology currently are concentrated on ascertaining high effect size rare variants and individual effect of common variants. However, it is now clear that disease penetrance is actually the result of interplay between pathogenic mutations and genetic backgrounds.

3. ADHD

Although ADHD has been known since the 18th century, its etiology has only been progressively researched in the last 25 years. Since 1992 the ICD-10 has recognized ADHD persists into adulthood. Now in 2023, its etiology is believed to be a combination of genetic and developmental risk factors Finally, pathways to disentangle these factors now appear to be promising.

[1] This article is based on studies in The American Journal of Psychiatry, January 2023, Vol. 180, Number 1. Published by the American Psychiatric Assn.

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), “Autism Spectrum Disorder in Teenagers & Adults,” (last visited April 5, 2023).

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People With Disabilities Foundation is an operating 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, which focuses on the rights of the mentally and developmentally disabled.

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Advocacy: PWDF advocates for Social Security claimant’s disability benefits in eight Bay Area counties. We also provide services in disability rights, on issues regarding returning to work, and in ADA consultations, including areas of employment, health care, and education, among others. There is representation before all levels of federal court and Administrative Law Judges. No one is declined due to their inability to pay, and we offer a sliding scale for attorney’s fees.

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