Every year, CanFASD publishes a list of our picks for the top FASD research articles published the previous year. The goal is to highlight some of the great work that is being done in this field.
A group of CanFASD staff members, Research Leads, and members of our Family Advisory Committee selects the articles. The group chooses research that aligns best with CanFASD’s areas of focus and that is generalizable to Canadians, can influence policy or practice, is ground-breaking or newsworthy, and is scientifically rigorous.
Final selections were categorized by area of focus and limited to a maximum of five articles per category. All articles are published in peer-reviewed journals. They are arranged in alphabetical order by first author’s surname.
This year, we again excluded articles on maternal health and the prevention of FASD. Annually, the prevention Network Action Team (pNAT) creates an annotated bibliography of articles on maternal health and FASD prevention from around the world, organized by all the levels of prevention. The annotated bibliography is released in the spring of each year and can be found on the prevention section of our website.
By taking the time to read and engage with these research articles, you not only expand your knowledge but also show support for the researchers and individuals working to improve the lives of those with FASD. Without further ado, here are the top FASD research articles of 2023!
Assessment, Diagnosis, and Clinical Presentation
- Sex-related differences among individuals assessed for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Canada
- Transitions into adulthood for people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A scoping review of promising practices (open access)
- Lived experiences of the diagnostic assessment process for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review of qualitative evidence (open access)
- Adverse childhood experiences in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and their effects on behavior
- Latent classes of neurodevelopmental profiles and needs in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure (open access)
Interventions
- A tornado in the family: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and aggression during childhood and adolescence: A scoping review (open access)
- The Eastern Door Center: Re-balancing the wheel: A Two-Eyed Seeing approach to FASD and other disorders related to transgenerational adversity (open access)
- Client perceptions of an FASD-informed Indigenous Restorative Justice Program (open access)
- Relationship-based intervention for children who were prenatally alcohol exposed in South Africa
- Dog-assisted therapy vs relaxation for children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A randomized controlled study
Mental Health
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Linking immune function to mental health status
- Understanding the impacts of childhood adversity on sleep problems in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A comparison of cumulative and dimensional approaches
- Limbic brain subregions associated with mental health symptoms in youth with and without prenatal alcohol exposure (open access)
- The trauma experiences of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Developmental outcomes utilizing a threat/deprivation child adversity framework
Child Welfare
- Infants, children, and youth in foster care with prenatal substance exposure: A synthesis of two scoping reviews (open access)
- Bringing FASD-informed care to child welfare: An efficient community model for FASD assessment and consultation
- Challenges and opportunities to care for children in child welfare with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders while working toward preserving their families (open access)
- Aboriginal kinship carers and children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Western Australia: Advancing knowledge from an Indigenous and disability lens (open access)
Caregivers and Families
Justice
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder evidence in Canadian criminal cases: A case law review (open access)
- Scoping review of employment resources for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and justice involvement (open access)
Socio-Political, Ethical, and Policy-Related
Animal / Brain / Brain Science
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure (open access)
- Disrupted dynamic functional network connectivity in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Statistics / Prevalence
Education
- Parent views on the educational experience of students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Advocacy, Inclusion, and collaboration
- Teachers’ needs for an FASD-informed resource: A qualitative interview needs assessment based on the ADAPT-ITT framework
Physical Health
- Pattern of visual-motor integration, visual perception, and fine motor coordination abilities in children being assessed for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- The oral health-related quality of life for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder—A cross-sectional study
- Population level administrative data evidence of visits to the emergency department by youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities in BC, Canada