Entrainment of prefrontal theta synchrony increases interbrain coupling and enhances social interaction in mouse models of autism

Psychotherapy is supported by evidence across several psychological conditions, yet its value cannot be understood solely through symptom change. This thematic integrative review examines psychotherapy as both an intervention and a relational setting in which psychological safety, trust, collaboration, and self-understanding may support change. Literature discussed in the source synopsis is organized around three themes: psychotherapy outcomes across mood, anxiety, trauma-related, and personality difficulties; the therapeutic alliance and safety; and adapted, neurodiversity-affirming support for autistic people. Meta-analytic and theoretical literature generally supports psychotherapy effectiveness, while alliance research identifies the therapeutic relationship as a robust correlate of outcomes. Work on autistic youth suggests that adapted interventions can be beneficial, although outcomes and methods vary. Across these areas, the review identifies a need to connect clinical outcomes with clients? lived experience of safety, identity, accessibility, and agency. The review is integrative rather than systematic: the source material does not document reproducible database searches, screening counts, or formal quality appraisal. Accordingly, conclusions are interpretive and should not be treated as a comprehensive estimate of treatment effects. The paper argues for therapeutic spaces that combine evidence-informed care with collaborative, individualized, and affirming relationships.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most common disabilities in South African schools. However, there is still limited information about children with ASD and their schooling needs in South Africa. Teachers may find it particularly taxing to address behavioral challenges while simultaneously seeking to provide fair and accessible learning opportunities for all learners. This study identifies effective behavioural strategies to help manage the challenging behaviour of learners with ASD. The study conducted observations and semi-structured interviews as part of a qualitative multiple-case study design. The data were analysed inductively, and the results revealed that teachers relied largely on their own informal strategies. These included attempts to meet the child's individual needs, providing positive reinforcement to improve behavioural regulation, practicing positive communication, and using structured routines and regulation breaks. The implementation of these strategies was carried out without formal training or systematic guidance. Learner facilitators also provided valuable support to learners with ASD. These approaches address the inclusion of learners with unique learning capabilities in mainstream learning environments through teacher initiative. This was done to address behavioural challenges in populations with limited systemic support. Given the exploratory, small-scale nature of this study, findings are intended to offer in-depth insight rather than generalisable conclusions. Additionally, recommendations are provided to assist mainstream schools and teacher training.

Abstract We investigated public beliefs about the extent to which mental disorders are perceived to be part of the true self, that is, the set of traits and behaviors that compose one’s core character. We conducted three quantitative vignette-based studies (total n = 601) in UK general public samples, considering seven disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anorexia nervosa, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)). For each disorder, participants rated how much the disorder reflects the vignette character’s true self, along with perceived causes of the disorders (studies 1 and 2), perceived severity, age of onset, duration, probability of recovery (study 2), and stigmatization (study 3). Disorders differed sharply in the extent to which they were judged to be part of the true self: ADHD, ASD, and OCD received higher true self ratings than major depressive disorder, anorexia nervosa, and schizophrenia, with bipolar disorder intermediate. A disorder was rated more ‘true self’ when it was: perceived as more “biologically” caused; less “psychologically” caused; less severe; and recovery was perceived as less likely. Although the extent of stigmatization also varied across disorders, true self ratings did not predict stigmatization. Our results show that the public thinks about different mental disorders in quite different ways, suggesting that different disorders should not be lumped together when considering attitudes and their consequences.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is associated with elevated rates of anxiety and depression, as well as reduced quality of life, yet the mechanisms linking motor difficulties to these outcomes remain incompletely specified. This article presents and critically evaluates the Integrated Stress-Adaptation Framework for DCD (ISAF-DCD), which synthesizes empirical findings on DCD with established stress theories, including the Environmental Stress Hypothesis, the transactional model of stress, and the Conservation of Resources model. Although the framework is presented with reference to comorbid neurodevelopmental conditions broadly, its evidential basis and worked examples concentrate specifically on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); generalization to other neurodevelopmental conditions is plausible but has not been evaluated here. ISAF-DCD proposes that motor coordination difficulties influence mental, cognitive, and physical health through interacting environmental demands, primary and secondary stressors, appraisal and response processes, and personal and social factors. The framework is bidirectional and developmentally sensitive, allowing outcomes to feed back into subsequent stress and adaptation processes across the lifespan. I examine the model’s conceptual coherence, empirical support, and potential clinical utility, arguing that ISAF-DCD offers a theoretically grounded heuristic for organizing a fragmented literature while remaining provisional. Its proposed contributions include clarifying the multiple roles of resilience and social support, refining the classification of environmental demands, incorporating neurodevelopmental comorbidity as a cross-cutting factor, and representing reciprocal relationships between stress and motor functioning. To improve falsifiability, I specify the temporal and functional roles of key dual-role constructs and derive five core, empirically distinguishable propositions that differentiate ISAF-DCD from an expanded Environmental Stress Hypothesis. Direct empirical support for some components, particularly the proposed corticolimbic mechanisms, remains limited. ISAF-DCD should therefore be treated as a hypothesis-generating framework, focused primarily on ADHD and ASD as comorbid conditions and on mental health as its central but not exclusive outcome domain, that requires rigorous longitudinal and intervention-based evaluation.