scholarly journals Autistic Traits and Illness Trajectories

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Dell'Osso ◽  
Primo Lorenzi ◽  
Barbara Carpita
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Specific Localization ◽  
Personality Features

In the framework of increasing attention towards autism-related conditions, a growing number of studies have recently investigated the prevalence and features of sub-threshold Autistic Traits (ATs) among adults. ATs span across the general population, being more pronounced in several clinical groups of patients affected by psychiatric disorders. Moreover, ATs seem to be associated with specific personality features in non-clinical population, implying both a higher vulnerability towards psychopathology and extraordinary talents in specific fields. In this framework, the DSM-5’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presentations may be considered as the tip of an iceberg that features several possible clinical and non-clinical phenotypes. Globally, the autism spectrum may be considered as a trans-nosographic dimension, which may not only represent the starting point for the development of different psychopathological trajectories but also underlie non-psychopathological personality traits. These different trajectories might be shaped by the specific localization and severity of the neurodevelopmental alteration and by its interaction with the environment and lifetime events. In this wider framework, autistic-like neurodevelopmental alterations may be considered as a general vulnerability factor for different kinds of psychiatric disorders, but also the neurobiological basis for the development of extraordinary abilities, eventually underlying the concept of geniality. Moreover, according to recent literature, we hypothesize that ATs may also be involved in the functioning of human mind, featuring the peculiar sense of “otherness” which can be found, with different grades of intensity, in every human being.

scholarly journals Autism spectrum heterogeneity: fact or artifact?

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 3178-3185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Mottron ◽  
Danilo Bzdok
Keyword(s):  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Qualitative Properties ◽  
Diagnostic Practices ◽  
Clinical Intuition ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Diagnostic Threshold ◽  
Categorical Diagnosis

AbstractThe current diagnostic practices are linked to a 20-fold increase in the reported prevalence of ASD over the last 30 years. Fragmenting the autism phenotype into dimensional “autistic traits” results in the alleged recognition of autism-like symptoms in any psychiatric or neurodevelopemental condition and in individuals decreasingly distant from the typical population, and prematurely dismisses the relevance of a diagnostic threshold. Non-specific socio-communicative and repetitive DSM 5 criteria, combined with four quantitative specifiers as well as all their possible combinations, render limitless variety of presentations consistent with the categorical diagnosis of ASD. We propose several remedies to this problem: maintain a line of research on prototypical autism; limit the heterogeneity compatible with a categorical diagnosis to situations with a phenotypic overlap and a validated etiological link with prototypical autism; reintroduce the qualitative properties of autism presentations and of current dimensional specifiers, language, intelligence, comorbidity, and severity in the criteria used to diagnose autism in replacement of quantitative “social” and “repetitive” criteria; use these qualitative features combined with the clinical intuition of experts and machine-learning algorithms to differentiate coherent subgroups in today’s autism spectrum; study these subgroups separately, and then compare them; and question the autistic nature of “autistic traits”

scholarly journals Is the Pain Just Physical? The Role of Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Autistic Traits in Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome, an Internet-Based Survey in Italy

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1472
Author(s):  
Matteo Rocchetti ◽  
Alessandra Bassotti ◽  
Jacopo Corradi ◽  
Stefano Damiani ◽  
Gianluigi Pasta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Background: Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) have been associated with psychological distress, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and worsening in quality of life (QoL). Among the neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have shown the highest rates of co-occurrence with EDS. The reasons for these associations are unknown and a possible role of pain in increasing the risk of psychiatric disorders in EDS has been suggested. However, a detailed picture of an Italian EDS sample is still lacking. Methods: We conducted a web-based survey in a third level center for the diagnosis of EDS in northern Italy, to investigate psychological distress, QoL, and the presence of autistic traits. Furthermore, we correlated the psychometric data with some clinical variables. Results: We observed a high rate of psychological distress with 91% of the responders at high risk of common mental disorders, low QoL, and high prevalence of autistic traits in EDS patients. Specifically, patients lacking a specific genetic test, diagnosed as suspects of EDS appeared to be at greater risk and reported worse psychological QoL. Pain was significantly associated with both psychological distress and worse QoL. Conclusions: Our findings support the need of further research and of a multi-disciplinary approach to EDS including psychological and psychiatric liaison.

scholarly journals The Directionality of Fronto-Posterior Brain Connectivity Is Associated with the Degree of Individual Autistic Traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1443
Author(s):  
Luca Tarasi ◽  
Elisa Magosso ◽  
Giulia Ricci ◽  
Mauro Ursino ◽  
Vincenzo Romei
Keyword(s):  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Connectivity Pattern ◽  
Causality Analysis ◽  
Cortical Hierarchy ◽  
Neural Mapping ◽  
Specific Symptoms

Altered patterns of brain connectivity have been found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and associated with specific symptoms and behavioral features. Growing evidence suggests that the autistic peculiarities are not confined to the clinical population but extend along a continuum between healthy and maladaptive conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a differentiated connectivity pattern could also be tracked along the continuum of autistic traits in a non-clinical population. A Granger causality analysis conducted on a resting-state EEG recording showed that connectivity along the posterior-frontal gradient is sensitive to the magnitude of individual autistic traits and mostly conveyed through fast oscillatory activity. Specifically, participants with higher autistic traits were characterized by a prevalence of ascending connections starting from posterior regions ramping the cortical hierarchy. These findings point to the presence of a tendency within the neural mapping of individuals with higher autistic features in conveying proportionally more bottom-up information. This pattern of findings mimics those found in clinical forms of autism, supporting the idea of a neurobiological continuum between autistic traits and ASD.

scholarly journals The relationship between autistic characteristics, social engagement and executive function in a typical sample

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolle Robertson ◽  
Adam Qureshi ◽  
Rebecca L. Monk
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Typical Sample

Purpose This study aims to represent a first attempt to examine in a non-clinical population the interplay between social engagement, executive function (EF) and theory of mind (ToM) within a social motivation theory framework. Design/methodology/approach A total of 170 participants (135 female; mean age = 19.01 and standard deviation = 1.27) completed measures of ToM (Faux Pas task), autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient), social engagement (reward dependence subscale of the Temperament and Character Inventory), sociability and EF (both subscales of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire). Findings Path analyses found that EF, sociability and social engagement were negatively associated with autistic traits both directly and indirectly. Results indicate that EF may impact sociability and social engagement and their interaction may relate to the degree of autistic traits shown in a typical sample. However, ToM (as measured by the Faux Pas test) was not related to any of the other variables. Originality/value Sociability, social engagement and effortful control deficits may be linked to higher levels of autistic traits. These factors appear to form a hierarchy of factors underpinning autism spectrum disorder, with EF contributing to all aspects, followed by sociability and social engagement at a higher level. Future research examining in clinical populations the utility of a more integrated model of social motivation that incorporates EF appears warranted.

scholarly journals Defining the Optimal Threshold Scores for Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) in Clinical and General Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 204-211
Author(s):  
Liliana Dell’Osso ◽  
Claudia Carmassi ◽  
Ivan Mirko Cremone ◽  
Dario Muti ◽  
Antonio Salerni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Diagnostic Thresholds ◽  
Psychometric Tool ◽  
Autistic Symptoms ◽  
Adult Autism ◽  
Clinically Significant

Background: The Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) is a recently developed instrument tailored to assess the broad range of full-threshold as well as sub-threshold manifestations related to the autism spectrum. Although it has proved to be a valuable instrument for quantitative assessment of autistic symptoms, the AdAS Spectrum still lacks validated diagnostic thresholds. Objective: The aim of this study was to define the best cut-off scores of the AdAS Spectrum for determining the presence of subthreshold autistic traits as well as a clinically significant autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Our sample was composed of 39 patients with full-blown ASD, 73 subjects with autistic traits, and 150 healthy controls. Subjects were evaluated by trained psychiatrists, who performed a clinical diagnosis according to DSM-5 and then assessed with the AdAS Spectrum and the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Results: Our results showed that the most discriminant cut-off scores were 70 for identifying subjects with full-blown ASD, and 43 for determining the presence of significant autistic traits. Conclusion: The threshold values proposed here showed satisfying levels of specificity and sensibility, as well as a good agreement with the diagnosis according to DSM-5 criteria, confirming the validity of the AdAS Spectrum as a psychometric tool for measuring ASD-related conditions in the clinical and general population.

scholarly journals The amplitude of fNIRS hemodynamic response in the visual cortex unmasks autistic traits in typically developing children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele M Mazziotti ◽  
Elena Scaffei ◽  
Eugenia Conti ◽  
Viviana Marchi ◽  
Riccardo Rizzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Development ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Occipital Cortex ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Autistic traits represent a continuum dimension across the population, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being the extreme end of the distribution. Accumulating evidence shows that neuroanatomical and neurofunctional profiles described in relatives of ASD individuals reflect an intermediate neurobiological pattern between the clinical population and healthy controls. This suggests that quantitative measures detecting autistic traits in the general population represent potential candidates for the development of biomarkers identifying early pathophysiological processes associated with ASD. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been extensively employed to investigate neural development and function. In contrast, the potential of fNIRS to define reliable biomarkers of brain activity has been barely explored. Features of non-invasiveness, portability, ease of administration and low-operating costs make fNIRS a suitable instrument to assess brain function for differential diagnosis, follow-up, analysis of treatment outcomes and personalized medicine in several neurological conditions. Here, we introduce a novel standardized procedure with high entertaining value to measure hemodynamic responses (HDR) in the occipital cortex of adult subjects and children. We found that the variability of evoked HDR correlates with the autistic traits of children, assessed by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. Interestingly, HDR amplitude was especially linked to social and communication features, representing the core symptoms of ASD. These findings establish a quick and easy strategy for measuring visually-evoked cortical activity with fNIRS that optimize the compliance of young subjects, setting the background for testing the diagnostic value of fNIRS visual measurements in the ASD clinical population.

scholarly journals From Asperger's Autistischen Psychopathen to DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder and Beyond: A Subthreshold Autism Spectrum Model

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Dell’Osso ◽  
Riccardo Dalle Luche ◽  
Camilla Gesi ◽  
Ilenia Moroni ◽  
Claudia Carmassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Asperger’S Disorder ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Asperger's Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Model ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Spectrum Model

Growing interest has recently been devoted to partial forms of autism, lying at the diagnostic boundaries of those conditions previously diagnosed as Asperger’s Disorder. This latter includes an important retrieval of the European classical psychopathological concepts of adult autism to which Hans Asperger referred in his work. Based on the review of Asperger's Autistische Psychopathie, from first descriptions through the DSM-IV Asperger’s Disorder and up to the recent DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder, the paper aims to propose a Subthreshold Autism Spectrum Model that encompasses not only threshold-level manifestations but also mild/atypical symptoms, gender-specific features, behavioral manifestations and personality traits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This model includes, but is not limited to, the so-called broad autism phenotype spanning across the general population that does not fully meet Autism Spectrum Disorder criteria. From this perspective, we propose a subthreshold autism as a unique psychological/behavioral model for research that could help to understand the neurodevelopmental trajectories leading from autistic traits to a broad range of mental disorders.

The broad autism phenotype in real-life: clinical and functional correlates of autism spectrum symptoms and rumination among parents of patients with autism spectrum disorder

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 765-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Carpita ◽  
Claudia Carmassi ◽  
Sara Calderoni ◽  
Dario Muti ◽  
Alessia Muscarella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Response Scale ◽  
Global Functioning ◽  
History Of

AbstractObjectiveIncreasing literature reported higher rates of psychiatric disorders in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as of autistic-like features in social and cognitive functioning. However, little attention has been paid to the association between autistic traits (AT) and global functioning in this population. The aim of the present work was to investigate clinical and functional correlates of AT among parents of ASD children, with a specific focus on ruminative thinking.MethodsOne hundred and twenty parents of ASD children were assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum), the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS).ResultsSubjects with at least 1 psychiatric disorder (39.2%) showed significantly higher AdAS Spectrum and RRS scores. Subjects with a history of school difficulties and with language development alterations scored significantly higher on specific AdAS Spectrum domains. A significant negative correlation was found between SOFAS and AdAS Spectrum scores, as well as between SOFAS and RRS scores. AdAS Spectrum nonverbal communication domain score was identified has a statistically predictive variable for the presence of psychiatric disorders and lower SOFAS scores. Finally, we found a significant indirect effect of AdAS total score on SOFAS score, which was fully mediated by RRS total score.ConclusionsAT in parents of ASD children seem to be associated with a higher vulnerability toward psychopathology and with a lower global functioning. Ruminative thinking may play a role in the relationship between AT and functional outcome.

Aging and Autism

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Need For Support ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

In this article, I will review the available recent literature about the aging population with autism, a patient group that researchers know little about and a group that is experiencing a growing need for support from communication disorders professionals. Speech-language pathologists working with geriatric patients should become familiar with this issue, as the numbers of older patients with autism spectrum disorders is likely to increase. Our profession and our health care system must prepare to meet the challenge these patients and residents will present as they age.

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