Self-Reported Autistic Traits Using the AQ: A Comparison between Individuals with ASD, Psychosis, and Non-Clinical Controls

Abstract

The term “autism” was originally coined by Eugen Bleuler to describe one of the core symptoms of schizophrenia. Even if autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are now considered two distinct conditions, they share some clinical features. The present study aimed to investigate self-reported autistic traits in individuals with ASD, SSD, and non-clinical controls (NCC), using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a 50-item questionnaire. The study was conducted in the Psychiatry Unit of Policlinico “G. Rodolico”, Catania, Italy. The AQ was administered to 35 adults with ASD, 64 with SSD, and 198 NCC. Overall, our data showed that the ASD sample scored significantly higher than NCC. However, no significant differences were detected between individuals with ASD and SSD. Notably, the three groups scored similarly in the subscale “attention to detail”. AQ showed good accuracy in differentiating ASD from NCC (AUC = 0.84), while discriminant ability was poor in the clinical sample (AUC = 0.63). Finally, AQ did not correlate with clinician-rated ADOS-2 scores in the ASD sample. Our study confirms that symptoms are partially overlapping in adults with ASD and psychosis. Moreover, they raise concerns regarding the usefulness of AQ as a screening tool in clinical populations.

Dysfunctions in Infants’ Statistical Learning are Related to Parental Autistic Traits

“…The mean AQ score for the LAT group was 16.48 ( SD = 2.88), which differed from the mean AQ score for the HAT group ( M = 25, SD = 3.78), t (44) = -8,70, p < 0.001 (Table 1 ). These values resembled the normative data of the BAP in the general population ( M = 15.77, SD = 6.75) and in the ASD population ( M = 25.97; SD = 8.09; Fusar-Poli et al 2020 ). The mean maternal AQ score was 13.35 ( SD = 3.18; range = 6–19) in the LAT group and 17.50 ( SD = 6.69; range = 7–30) in the HAT group, the mean paternal AQ score was 15.13 ( SD = 3.74; range = 8–20) in the LAT and 22.95 ( SD = 5.40; range = 14–36) in the HAT group.…”

Missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses of adults with autism spectrum disorder

“…Like ASD, psychotic disorders can be characterized by social isolation, socially inappropriate behaviors, and low social insight. Additionally, thought disorders and the use of an atypical or nonsensical language (e.g., tangentiality, circumstantiality, neologisms) are common to both psychoses and ASD [29,30]. PD can also have similar manifestations, such as odd behaviors (schizotypal PD), social withdrawal (schizoid PD), emotional dysregulation and self-injurious behaviors (borderline PD), low empathic traits (antisocial PD), social avoidance (avoidant PD) or sameness (obsessive-compulsive PD) [31].…”

Autistic Traits and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Predict the Severity of Internet Gaming Disorder in an Italian Adult Population

“…The AQ is a screening tool designed to identify autistic traits in the general population [20]. It is a self-administered questionnaire composed of 50 Likert-scale items ranging from "Definitely agree" to "Definitely disagree".…”