scholarly journals Autistic traits and mental health in women with the fragile-X premutation: maternal status versus genetic risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 218 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Sarah J. White ◽  
Denise Gerber ◽  
Romina D. Sanchez Hernandez ◽  
Anthonia Efiannayi ◽  
Ishita Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parental Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Fragile X Premutation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Behavioural Phenotypes ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Maternal Status

BackgroundResearch on women with the fragile-X premutation (FX-p) has been underrepresented within the field of behavioural phenotypes.AimsTo understand whether the FX-p confers risk for autistic traits, depression and anxiety, independent of maternal status.MethodIn study 1, mothers of children with fragile-X syndrome (M-FXp; n = 51, mean age 43 years (s.d. = 5.80)) were compared with mothers of autistic children (M-ASD; n = 59, mean age 42 (s.d. = 5.80)), mothers of children with Smith-Magenis syndrome (M-SMS; n = 27, mean age 39 (s.d. = 7.20)) and mothers of typically developing children (M-TD; n = 44, mean age 40 (s.d. = 4.90)). In study 2, the M-FXp group were compared with non-mothers with the FX-p (NM-FXp; n = 17, mean age 32 (s.d. = 9.20)), typically developed non-mothers (NM-TD; n = 28, mean age 31 (s.d. = 6.80)) and the M-TD group. All participants completed an online survey, including measures of IQ, autistic traits, anxiety, depression and positive affect.ResultsIn study 1: the M-FXp group reported more autistic traits than the M-TD group (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.046). Anxiety and parental stress were elevated in the M-FXp, M-SMS and M-ASD groups relative to the M-TD group (all P ≤ 0.003, η2 = 0.079–0.322). In study 2: a main effect of premutation status indicated that women with the FX-p report elevated autistic traits and anxiety (P ≤ 0.007, η2 = 0.055–0.060); this did not interact with maternal status.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that women with the FX-p show an increased risk for autistic traits and anxiety. This risk is specific to the presence of the FX-p and is not fully accounted for by maternal status or the stress of caring for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

scholarly journals Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hull ◽  
Lily Levy ◽  
Meng-Chuan Lai ◽  
K. V. Petrides ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background There is inconsistent evidence for a clear pattern of association between ‘camouflaging’ (strategies used to mask and/or compensate for autism characteristics during social interactions) and mental health. Methods This study explored the relationship between self-reported camouflaging and generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety in a large sample of autistic adults and, for the first time, explored the moderating effect of gender, in an online survey. Results Overall, camouflaging was associated with greater symptoms of generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety, although only to a small extent beyond the contribution of autistic traits and age. Camouflaging more strongly predicted generalised and social anxiety than depression. No interaction between camouflaging and gender was found. Limitations These results cannot be generalised to autistic people with intellectual disability, or autistic children and young people. The sample did not include sufficient numbers of non-binary people to run separate analyses; therefore, it is possible that camouflaging impacts mental health differently in this population. Conclusions The findings suggest that camouflaging is a risk factor for mental health problems in autistic adults without intellectual disability, regardless of gender. We also identified levels of camouflaging at which risk of mental health problems is highest, suggesting clinicians should be particularly aware of mental health problems in those who score at or above these levels.

Female fragile X premutation carriers are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome from early adulthood

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Gruber ◽  
Lilach Marom Haham ◽  
Hila Raanani ◽  
Yoram Cohen ◽  
LidiaV. Gabis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Fragile X Premutation ◽  
Increased Risk

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic- knowledge, perception, anxiety and depression among frontline doctors of Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faridah Amin ◽  
Salman Sharif ◽  
Rabeeya Saeed ◽  
Noureen Durrani ◽  
Daniyal Jilani
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire

Abstract Background COVID-19 is a global pandemic and has become a major public health burden worldwide. With already fragile healthcare systems it can have long lasting effects in developing countries. Outbreaks especially a pandemic situation evokes fear related behaviors among healthcare professionals and there is always an increased risk of mental health disorders. Therefore, this study aims to determine knowledge and perception about this pandemic, prevalence and factors associated with anxiety/depression among frontline physicians of Pakistan. Methods Data were collected through an online survey released in the last week of March-2020. 389 frontline physicians from all four provinces and 65 cities of Pakistan participated. Survey questionnaire consisted of 4 parts including informed consent section, demographic section, knowledge and perception about COVID-19 pandemic and assessment of depression through World Health Organization Self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). A score of 8 or above on SRQ-20 was used as cut-off to label the participant as depressed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version22. Results A 43% prevalence of anxiety/depression among frontline physicians of Pakistan was reported. Almost all the doctors had moderate to high knowledge score. Majority of participants marked N-95 mask as “essential” during aerosol generating procedures, assessing patients with respiratory symptoms, in COVID patient-care area, ER triage and direct care of COVID-19 patient. Only 12% of the doctors were fully satisfied with the provision of PPEs and almost 94% felt unprotected. In multivariable model, assessing more than five COVID suspects/day (aOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.65–4.52), working 20 h/week or less (aOR = 2.11, 1.27–3.49), having children among household members (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.00–2.50) and moderate to low knowledge of the infection (aOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.68–4.31) were found to be independent predictors of anxiety/depression among physicians. Conclusion Anxiety/depression among more than a third of frontline doctors of Pakistan warrants the need to address mental health of doctors caring for patients during this pandemic; control modifiable factors associated with it and explore the effectiveness of interventions to promote psychological well-being of physicians.

scholarly journals Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 3638-3648 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Cassidy ◽  
K. Gould ◽  
E. Townsend ◽  
M. Pelton ◽  
A. E. Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Interpersonal Psychological Theory

AbstractThe current study explored whether people who camouflage autistic traits are more likely to experience thwarted belongingness and suicidality, as predicted by the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). 160 undergraduate students (86.9% female, 18–23 years) completed a cross-sectional online survey from 8th February to 30th May 2019 including self-report measures of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, autistic traits, depression, anxiety, camouflaging autistic traits, and lifetime suicidality. Results suggest that camouflaging autistic traits is associated with increased risk of experiencing thwarted belongingness and lifetime suicidality. It is important for suicide theories such as the IPTS to include variables relevant to the broader autism phenotype, to increase applicability of models to both autistic and non-autistic people.

Is Vegetarianism Related to Anxio-Depressive Symptomatology? A Cross-Sectional Survey in A Large French Sample

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Bègue ◽  
Rebecca Shankland
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Vegetarian Diet ◽  
City Size ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Social ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Abstract Objective. Many studies indicate a link between vegetarianism and mental health, but the relationship remains uncertain. The aim of the present study is to examine the cross-sectional association between anxio-depressive symptomatology, happiness, and vegetarianism in a French sample while controlling for relevant confounders. Design. Self-reported questionnaire data were obtained from a large cross-sectional sample.Participants and setting. 9993 participants aged 18-99, 70.8% females participated in an online survey. Results. A logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) of anxiety, depression, happiness, and self-reported health to predict vegetarian diet, controlling for age, gender, BMI, educational level, monthly income, and city size. Vegetarians did not present an increased risk of anxiety or depression. However, they reported lower happiness than did non-vegetarians, and exhibited better self-reported health than did omnivores. Conclusion. Vegetarian diet was not found to be related to anxiety or depressive symptoms. However, vegetarians presented lower levels of happiness. This result may be interpreted as a consequence of the social status of vegetarianism in France.

The Association Between Autistic Traits and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Preliminary Findings Among Typically-developing Adults in Israel

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S137-S137 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Horesh ◽  
N. Haruvi-Lamdan ◽  
S. Lebendiger ◽  
O. Golan
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Post Traumatic

Background and aimsAlthough studies show that those suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face an increased risk of exposure to trauma (bullying, physical abuse), the co-morbidity between autistic symptoms/traits and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was almost entirely neglected by researchers. The aim of this preliminary study is to explore the possible associations between these two conditions among typically-developing college students.MethodsParticipants were 39 students, recruited from 2 Israeli universities. Twenty-four participants were psychology students, and 15 were business administration students. Participants completed self-report questionnaires tapping sociodemographic background, trauma exposure, PTSD (the PTSD Checklist-5, PCL-5), and autistic traits (the Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ).ResultsOur preliminary findings revealed a positive association between symptoms of PTSD and autistic traits. More specifically, among those in the 3rd and 4th highest quartiles of AQ scores, 87.5% met the cut-off score for a probable PTSD diagnosis (χ2 (3) = 8.25, P < 0.05). In addition, t-tests comparing the PTSD and non-PTSD groups showed significant differences in 3 out of 5 AQ sub-scales: social skill (t(37) = –2.12; P < 0.05), attention switching (t(37) = −2.09; P < 0.05) and communication (t(37) = −2.80; P < 0.01). Thus, higher AQ scores were reported by those in the PTSD group.ConclusionsASD may serve as a significant risk factor for post-traumatic symptomatology. The associations between these two conditions may be mediated by a variety of potential shared vulnerabilities, including increased rumination, dysregulated emotion and impaired social cognition. Further research is needed in order to explore these mechanisms, as well as to assess co-morbidity in clinical samples of both ASD and PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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