Kandice Varcin
Honorary Research Associate
M.Psych (Clinical), PhD
kandice.varcin@thekids.org.au
Dr Kandice Varcin is a Research Fellow who currently holds a conjoint appointment with CliniKids, The Kids Research Institute Australia and Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University.
Her research spans experimental research, clinical trials and policy-relevant applied research in the field of autism. Her work predominantly focuses on supporting young children and their families. She is particularly interested in the evaluation and translation of evidence-based therapies and supports for autistic children and their families. Her research aims to bridge the research-to-practice gap, so that children and families can more readily access supports that they want and that are likely to benefit them.
Dr Varcin has specialist training and expertise in developmental and diagnostic assessments for very young children. Dr Varcin was involved in the development of Australia’s first National Practice Guideline for supporting autistic children and their families.
Projects
ORIGINS of Neurodevelopmental Risk and Resilience
This project aims to better understand the early genetic and environmental factors that the developing brain during a child’s first five years of life.
A randomised-controlled trial of a behavioural intervention for optimising social and communication development in newborns at increased likelihood of autism spectrum disorders
Precision pathways for young children at risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Early identification and adaptive intervention starting from the prenatal period
The Engage Study: discovering and delighting in your baby - a pilot study
Published research
Feasibility of a 2-minute eye-tracking protocol to support the early identification of autism
We tested the potential for Gazefinder eye-tracking to support early autism identification, including feasible use with infants, and preliminary concurrent validity of trial-level gaze data against clinical assessment scores. We embedded the ~ 2-min 'Scene 1S4' protocol within a comprehensive clinical assessment for 54 consecutively-referred, clinically-indicated infants (prematurity-corrected age 9-14 months).
Parent-Child Interactions May Help to Explain Relations Between Parent Characteristics and Clinically Observed Child Autistic Behaviours
The importance of supporting parent-child interactions has been noted in the context of prodromal autism, but little consideration has been given to the possible contributing role of parental characteristics, such as psychological distress. This cross-sectional study tested models in which parent-child interaction variables mediated relations between parent characteristics and child autistic behaviour in a sample of families whose infant demonstrated early signs of autism.
Estimated Therapy Costs and Downstream Cost Consequences of iBASIS-Video Interaction to Promote Positive Parenting Intervention vs Usual Care Among Children Displaying Early Behavioral Signs of Autism in Australia
The growing global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is associated with increasing costs for support services. Ascertaining the effects of a successful preemptive intervention for infants showing early behavioral signs of autism on human services budgets is highly policy relevant.
The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism
Natural Language Sampling (NLS) offers clear potential for communication and language assessment, where other data might be difficult to interpret. We leveraged existing primary data for 18-month-olds showing early signs of autism, to examine the reliability and concurrent construct validity of NLS-derived measures coded from video-of child language, parent linguistic input, and dyadic balance of communicative interaction-against standardised assessment scores. Using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software and coding conventions, masked coders achieved good-to-excellent inter-rater agreement across all measures.
Caregiver sensitivity predicts infant language use, and infant language complexity predicts caregiver language complexity, in the context of possible emerging autism
While theory supports bidirectional effects between caregiver sensitivity and language use, and infant language acquisition-both caregiver-to-infant and also infant-to-caregiver effects-empirical research has chiefly explored the former unidirectional path. In the context of infants showing early signs of autism, we investigated prospective bidirectional associations with 6-min free-play interaction samples collected for 103 caregivers and their infants (mean age 12-months; and followed up 6-months later).
Continuity of temperament subgroup classifications from infancy to toddlerhood in the context of early autism traits
Our previous cross-sectional investigation (Chetcuti et al., 2020) showed that infants with autism traits could be divided into distinct subgroups based on temperament. This longitudinal study builds on this existing work by exploring the continuity of temperament subgroup classifications and their associations with behavioral/clinical phenotypic features from infancy to toddlerhood.
A systematic review of the biological, social, and environmental determinants of intellectual disability in children and adolescents
This systematic review aimed to identify the most important social, environmental, biological, and/or genetic risk factors for intellectual disability.
Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order.
Occurrence of psychosis and bipolar disorder in adults with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Evidence suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have increased rates of co-occurring psychosis and/or bipolar disorder. Considering the peak age of onset for psychosis and bipolar disorder occurs in adulthood, we investigated the co-occurrence of these disorders in adults with autism.
Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis
Intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically commences after diagnosis. No trial of an intervention administered to infants before diagnosis has shown an effect on diagnostic outcomes to date.
The course and prognostic capability of motor difficulties in infants showing early signs of autism
Delays within the motor domain are often overlooked as an early surveillance marker for autism. The present study evaluated motor difficulties and its potential as an early predictive marker for later autism likelihood in a cohort of infants showing early behavioral signs of autism aged 9-14 months. The motor domain was evaluated using the motor subscales of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at baseline, and at a 6-month follow-up.
Performance of the Autism Observation Scale for Infants with community-ascertained infants showing early signs of autism
We investigated whether a commonly used research assessment - the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) - accurately measures autism behaviours among infants showing early signs of autism identified within the community. The AOSI is often included in studies tracking the development of infants at increased likelihood of autism, such as the infant siblings of diagnosed children. However, the suitability of this measure has not previously been tested with community-referred infants.
Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.
A preliminary investigation of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on facial morphology in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
While early exposure to alcohol may influence the development of facial structures, it does not appear to be associated with ASD phenotypic variability
Prevalence of Motor Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Analysis of a Population-Based Cohort
In this population-based cohort that included 2,084 children with autism aged ≤6 years, over one-third met the criteria for motor difficulties
The misnomer of ‘high functioning autism’: Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosis
We argue that 'high functioning autism' is an inaccurate clinical descriptor when based solely on intelligence quotient demarcations
Early patterns of functional brain development associated with autism spectrum disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex
Infants with Tuberous sclerosis complex demonstrated reduced interhemispheric alpha phase coherence compared to controls at 12 months of age
Empathy for others’ pain is disrupted at the neurophysiological level in schizophrenia
These data suggest that empathy for pain is disrupted at the neurophysiological level in schizophrenia
A role for affectivity in rapid facial mimicry: An electromyographic study
Using a novel methodological approach, these findings provide evidence for the contention that affective processing underlies rapid facial mimicry reactions
Pre-emptive intervention versus treatment as usual for infants showing early behavioural risk signs of autism spectrum disorder
A pre-emptive intervention for the autism spectrum disorder prodrome had no immediate treatment effect on early autism spectrum disorder symptoms
Very Early Identification and Intervention for Infants at Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Transdiagnostic Approach
In this article, we examine the utility of a transdiagnostic, dimensional approach to very early identification and intervention for infants at risk of neurodevelopmental disorders
Intact spontaneous emotional expressivity to non-facial but not facial stimuli in schizophrenia: An electromyographic study
The results indicate that schizophrenia is marked by a disruption in rapid facial responding to facial expressions, but intact responding to non-facial emotional stimuli
The Brain Basis of Comorbidity in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
This review discusses early brain development and the etiological factors that may give rise to atypical developmental trajectories, along with neuroimaging insights
Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and autistic-like traits among offspring in the general population
This study provides further evidence that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with autism-like behaviors in offspring
Age invariance in rapid facial affective reactions to emotionally valenced stimuli
Rapid facial reactions to emotional stimuli are intact in late adulthood, even in response to stimuli that activate more automatic and implicit forms of emotion processing
The Promise of Electroencephalography for Advancing Diagnosis and Treatment in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
NDD's such as ASD, ADHD and ID, commonly emerge during early development and impacts function across cognitive, social-emotional, communication and sensorimotor
Early autism symptoms in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex
We examined early signs of ASD in infants wit tuberous sclerosis complex, approximately 50% of whom will meet criteria for ASD by age 3.
Prenatal maternal stress events and phenotypic outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASD, in the context of prenatal maternal stress exposure, may be associated with a more severe phenotype, particularly when there are multiple prenatal exposures
EEG power at 3 months in infants at high familial risk for autism
Reduced frontal power at 3 months may indicate increased risk for reduced expressive language skills at 12 months.
Investigating facial phenotype in autism spectrum conditions: The importance of a hypothesis driven approach
The identification of differences in the facial phenotype of individuals with ASC may contribute to efforts to promote early identification of the condition and help elucidate etiological pathways.
Relationship between early motor milestones and severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
This study provides the first evidence for the association between restricted and repetitive behaviors and age of attainment of early motor milestones.
The Promise of Electroencephalography for Advancing Diagnosis and Treatment in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability (ID), commonly emerge during early development and impact functioning across cognitive, social-emotional, communication, and sensorimotor domains.
Education and qualifications
B.Psychology (Hons) - University of New South Wales, Sydney
Master of Clinical Psychology - University of New South Wales, Sydney
PhD - University of New South Wales, Sydney
Publications
Jeste, S.S., Varcin, K,J., Hellemann, G., Gulsrud, A., Bhatt, R., Kasari, C., Wu, J., Sahin, M., Nelson, C.A. (in press). Symptom profiles of autism spectrum disorder in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Neurology.
Varcin, K.J., & Nelson, C.A. (2016). A developmental neuroscience approach to the search for biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder. Current Opinion in Neurology, 29, 123-129.
Tye, C., Varcin, K.J., Bolton, P. Jeste, S.S. Early developmental pathways to autism spectrum disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex. (2016). Advances in Autism, 2, 84-93.
Varcin, K.J., Nelson, C.A., Ko, J., Sahin, M. & Jeste, S.S. (2016). Visual evoked potentials as a readout of cortical function in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex. Journal of Child Neurology, 31, 195-202.
Nelson, C.A., Varcin, K.J, Coman, N.K., DeVivo, I., Tager-Flusberg, H. (2015). Accelerated telomere shortening in families with a propensity to autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 54, 588-594.
Montague, A.E., Varcin, K.J, & Parker, A.G. (2015). Putting technology into youth mental health practice to engage clients and complement treatment: Young people’s perspectives. Sage Open. DOI: 10.1177/2158244015581019.
Jeste, S.S., Wu, J.Y., Senturk, D., Varcin, K.J. , Ko, J., McCarthy, B., Shimizu, C., Dies, K., Vogel-Farley, V., Sahin, M., Nelson, C.A. (2014). Early developmental trajectories associated with ASD in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex. Neurology, 83, 160-168.
Bailey, P.E., Henry, J.D., & Varcin, K.J. (2012). Right frontal cortical lesions disrupt anger mimicry. Neuropsychologia, 50, 1632-1638.
Varcin, K.J., Bailey, P.E., & Henry, J.D. (2010). Empathic deficits in schizophrenia: The potential role of rapid facial mimicry. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 16, 621-629.
Cranney, J., Turnbull, C., Provost, S.C., Martin, F., Katsikitis, M., White, F.A., Voudouris, N.J., Montgomery, I.M., Heaven ,P.C.L., Morris, S., Varcin, K.J. (2009). Graduate attributes of the 4-year Australian undergraduate psychology program. Australian Psychologist, 44, 253-26.
Awards/Honours
- 2018 - Imogen Miranda Suleski Fellowship, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Australia
- 2015 - Morgan Stanley Pediatrics Fellowship, American Australian Association, USA
Active Collaborations
- National Guideline for supporting the learning, wellbeing and participation of autistic children and their families in Australia with Griffith University