Enugu Hari Priya Reddy, Tiffany Neal, Ph.D.; Aditi Deodhar, Ph.D.; Naomi Swiezy, Ph.D.
Introduction: The Indiana NeuroDiagnostic Institute (NDI) embodies comprehensive care, stabilization, and transition support for teenagers with autism, across the stages like waitlist, preadmission, admission, discharge, and follow-up, focusing on sustainable community integration and preventing re-admission, it is overseen by the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA), and Division of Mental Health & Addiction (DMHA). Patients are on unit for average of 6 weeks and a year of post-discharge support.
Background: The Hands in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center provides practical training and support for professionals and caregivers working with ASD individuals worldwide. They aim to address community needs, promote collaboration, and share resources for better outcomes. Their mission is to enhance the understanding and application of evidence-based practices. Their vision is to build local capacity and networks for positive outcomes, emphasizing collaboration and information-sharing.
Materials & Methods: The project employs the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI; adapted from Guy, 1976), gauging illness severity and patient progress on a scale of 1 (Normal) to 7 (Extremely ill), assessed preadmission and post-discharge. By geographically mapping CGI Severity scores across the state, the project uncovers care variations, referral sensitivity and regional needs, enabling tailored interventions for enhanced effectiveness. To gather the necessary data, we utilized the REDCap database (Harris et al., 2009), which enabled us to measure the Clinical Global Impressions score (CGI; adapted from Guy, 1976).
Results: Most counties initially had high severity scores (7 and 6) but showed a marked shift towards level 5 after leaving the care facility. This positive trend persisted at 1 month, 9 months, and 12 months post-discharge, though data samples were limited. The analysis of CGI Severity Scores in counties demonstrates significant improvement in individuals with autism post-discharge.
Discussion/Conclusion: The findings emphasize the enduring benefits of interventions. Factors like individual response variations and external support may have influenced outcomes, warranting further investigation. Overall, the study underscores the effectiveness of tailored interventions for individuals with autism, with potential for broader validation in larger, diverse samples. NDI’s multi-phase, collaborative approach addresses present and future needs, while implementation science refines Evidence-Based/Evidence-Informed practices for continuous improvement. The approach emphasizes using the HANDS in Autism® Model Training Curriculum, Framework, and Process as a foundation for training and community-based intervention.
References:
- Guy W, editor. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. 1976. Rockville, MD, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
- PA Harris, R Taylor, R Thielke, J Payne, N Gonzalez, JG. Conde, Research electronic data capture (REDCap) – A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support, Journal of Biomedical Informatics. 2009 Apr;42(2):377-81.
- PA Harris, R Taylor, BL Minor, V Elliott, M Fernandez, L O’Neal, L McLeod, G Delacqua, F Delacqua, J Kirby, SN Duda, REDCap Consortium, The REDCap consortium: Building an international community of software partners,& Journal of Biomedical Informatics. 2019 May 9 [doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103208]
Madhuhasa Battula; Tiffany Neal ; Aditi Deodhar ; Archana Darsanapu; Naomi Swiezy
Introduction: The Indiana NDI (Neurodevelopmental Institute) Exploratory Project is an initiative that embodies a cooperative effort involving multidisciplinary experts under the auspices of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), specifically the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA). Their primary goal is to assess the specific needs of youth with autism in three critical stages: pre-admission, post-admission, and post-discharge intervention, and aims to provide a comprehensive and well-coordinated approach to behavior management, ensuring that these individuals receive integrated care throughout their journey. Furthermore, the project actively contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by promoting good health and well-being through comprehensive care strategies and reducing inequalities by addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by youth with autism
Background: The need for this study arises from the significant healthcare challenges faced by youth with autism, particularly in identifying and addressing the presence of TBI. To contextualize the population being served, it is essential to recognize the high prevalence of TBI among individuals with autism and its potential impact on their overall well-being (Singh et al., 2016).
Materials & Methods: In our study, a total of 58 NDI clients were examined. Data was extracted from the RedCap database (Patridge & Bardyn, 2018). This enabled us to assess the potential of various patient behaviors to indicate the presence of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) using predictive models, establishing a statistically significant correlation between certain behaviors and the occurrence of TBI. We generated a correlation matrix to illustrate the relationships between patient behaviors and TBI. This matrix presents correlations between variables, focusing on the bottom half of the numbers to avoid duplication.
Discussion/Conclusion: The data analysis indicates a statistically significant positive correlation between multiple patient behaviors and the presence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), as supported by high model accuracies. This suggests that these patient behaviors may serve as indicators of the presence of TBI and warrant further investigation. It informs healthcare practices, interventions, and support systems aimed at enhancing the quality of life for TBI survivors, aligning with the goal of promoting good health and well-being for all. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs and advanced analytical methods to explore the causal pathways between TBI and behavioral changes, accounting for potential mediating and moderating factors. Additionally, examining the long-term consequences of TBI on behavior is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involved.
References:
- Patridge, E., & Bardyn, T. (2018). Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCAP). Journal of the Medical Library Association, 106(1). https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2018.319
- Singh, R., Turner, R. C., Nguyen, L., Motwani, K., Swatek, M., & Lucke-Wold, B. (2016). Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Autism: Elucidating shared mechanisms. Behavioural Neurology, 2016, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8781725
