WAFT

Research conducted as part of Ferdousse Talis Belfodil‘s doctoral thesis

Direction : Émilie Cappe, Université Paris Cité

Co-direction : Laurent Mottron, Université de Montréal

Funding: in progress

Research conducted as part of Valentine Perrelet’s doctoral thesis

Direction : Émilie Cappe, Université Paris Cité

Co-direction : Aline Veyre, Haute école de travail social et de la santé Lausanne

Funding:  Haute École de Travail Social et de la Santé de Lausanne (Suisse)

Access to Valentine’s web page

Objective: The aim is (1) to develop an innovative method for training university teachers and staff in autism, combining a conventional learning environment with theoretical presentations and a learning environment using embodied virtual reality (experiential learning), and (2) to test its effects through a pre/post-test protocol.

Associate researchers: Amaël Arguel (Université de Toulouse), Émilie Boujut (Cergy Paris Université), Céline Clément (Université de Strasbourg), Kristopher Lamore (Université de Lille), David Panzoli (Université de Toulouse), Marie-Hélène Plumet (Université Paris Cité), Sabine Zorn (INSEI)

Partners: Réseau Atypie-Friendly et l’Association « LaBulle! »

Funding: IdEX Université Paris Cité « Recherche en émergence 2021 » et « Pré-Maturation IdEX 2 »

Publication related to research:

McPeake, E., Lamore K, Boujut, É., Khoury, J., Pellenq, C., Plumet M.-H., Cappe, É. (2023). “I just need a little more support”: A thematic analysis of Autistic student’s experience of university in France. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102172 (PsycInfo, SJR Q2, Impact Factor 2.5) Access to publication on HAL

Research conducted as part of Jérôme Lichtlé‘s doctoral thesis, defended in 2021

Thesis summary:

The aims of this study were (1) to develop a module adapted to preschool children with autism, to be administered in conjunction with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQLTM 4.0, version 2–4 years), (2) to evaluate the metrological qualities of the PedsQLTM 4.0 (version 2–4 years) and of the “autism” module, and (3) to explore factors that may influence the QoL of children with autism in this age group. Ten verbal autistic adults participated in a semi-structured interview. A thematic content analysis provided an initial bank of items for the “autism” module. This was then evaluated by a panel of experts and pre-tested with ten parents of autistic children. Then, 279 parents of typically developing preschool children completed the PedsQLTM 4.0, and 157 parents of autistic children of the same age completed several scales, including the PedsQLTM 4.0 and the “autism” module. Content analysis of the interviews revealed four major themes: interests, environmental regularity, sensory perception, and social relationships. Following evaluation by a panel of experts and pre-testing, the 27 items selected constitute the operational module for assessing the parent’s perception of QoL adapted to preschool children with autism and are used in conjunction with the PedsQLTM 4.0 (version 2–4 years). A psychometric study was also carried out, leading to a final 24-item version.

Direction : Émilie Cappe, Université Paris Cité

Co-direction : Laurent Mottron, Université de Montréal

Access to the doctoral student page

Access to the manuscript of the thesis

Access to the thesis defense video

Publication related to research:

• Lichtlé, J., & Cappe, É. (2024, à paraître). Échelle modulaire d’hétéro-évaluation de la qualité de vie adaptée à l’enfant d’âge pré-scolaire ayant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme. In J.-L. Adrien et M. P. Gattegno, Les évaluations psychologiques des enfants et adolescents ayant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme. Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgique : De Boeck Supérieur.
• Lichtlé, J., Devouche, E., Dialahy, I., de Gaulmyn, A., Amestoy, A., Coutelle, R., Isnard, P., Monestès, J.-L., Mottron, L., Cappe, É. (2023). Development, psychometric evaluation, and factor analysis of an instrument measuring quality of life in autistic preschoolers. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, e2002. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.2002 (SCOPUS, Medline, SJR Q1, Impact Factor 3.860) Access to the full article
• Lichtlé, J., Devouche, E., Downes, N., Mottron, L., & Cappe, É. (2022). Psychometric validation of the French version of the PedsQL^TM0 generic health-related quality of life questionnaire for 2-4 year-old children. European Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-022-04796-y (SCOPUS, Medline, SJR Q1, Impact Factor 3.1) Full-text view-only version: https://rdcu.be/c2Vnx
• Lichtlé, J., Lamore, K., Pedoux, A., Downes, N., Mottron, L., & Cappe, É. (2021). Searching for what really matters: a thematic analysis of quality of life among preschool children on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05097-3 (PsycInfo, SJR Q1, Impact Factor 3.654). Full-text view-only version: https://rdcu.be/clGQT

Research conducted as part of Lucile Bellalou‘s doctoral thesis, defended in 2019

Thesis summary:
This research aimed to create and validate a scale for identifying the signs of a Characterized Depressive Episode (CDE), to identify factors associated with the signs of CDEs in children and adolescents with autism, and to study depressive manifestations in their usual functioning. Four studies were carried out. The first created a scale to identify the signs of CDEs specific to autistic children and adolescents. The second study validated this scale (N = 153). Inter-rater reliability was satisfactory but should be assessed on a larger sample (ρ-reliability = 0.98; ρ-reliability = 0.02). The scale has good apparent content and criterion validity and excellent internal consistency (αCDE = 0.91). It is composed of two factors: one of behavioral changes and the other of emotional and cognitive changes. The third study aimed to identify factors associated with CDEs in children and adolescents with autism (N = 58). Both individual factors (notably linked to the course of care concerning ASD diagnosis and somatic health) and family factors (notably parental experience and the desire to have friends) were linked to depressive symptomatology. The fourth study aimed to identify depressive manifestations in the usual functioning of children and adolescents with autism (N = 133).

Access to the thesis manuscript

Direction : Émilie Cappe, Université Paris Cité

Funding: Association Vivre et Devenir

Publication related to research:

• Bellalou, L., & Cappe, É. (2024, à paraître). La dépression de l’enfant et de l’adolescent avec un trouble du spectre de l’Autisme : l’Échelle de repérage de l’épisode Dépressif caractérisé spécifique à l’Autisme – EDA3. In J.-L. Adrien et M. P. Gattegno, Les évaluations psychologiques des enfants et adolescents ayant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme. Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgique : De Boeck Supérieur.
• Bellalou, L., Downes, N., Cappe, É. (2021). Development and preliminary validation of a depressive symptomatology detection scale among children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Autism, 25(2), 361-373. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1362361320958209 (PsycInfo, SJR Q1, Impact Factor 7.271)
• Bellalou, L., & Cappe, É. (2019). Trouble dépressif et trouble du spectre de l’autisme chez l’enfant et l’adolescent : analyse de la portée de la littérature depuis la parution du Manuel diagnostic et statistique des maladies mentales (DSM-5). Journal de Thérapie Comportementale et Cognitive, 29(2), 82-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcc.2018.11.002 (PsycInfo, SJR Q4, Impact Factor 0.189)
• Lucie Bellalou’s interview