Alexithymic and autistic traits: Relevance for comorbid depression and social phobia in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder
| Autor: | Laura Albantakis, H. Thaler, Leonie Weindel, Bert Timmermans, Marie-Luise Brandi, Lara Henco, Imme Christina Zillekens, Lena M. Schliephake, Leonhard Schilbach |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
030506 rehabilitation Autism Spectrum Disorder 03 medical and health sciences Alexithymia mental disorders adults Developmental and Educational Psychology medicine Humans 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Affective Symptoms Autistic Disorder Depression (differential diagnoses) Depression 05 social sciences Interpersonal emotion regulation Phobia Social Original Articles medicine.disease Comorbidity High-functioning autism psychiatric comorbidity Autism spectrum disorder Quality of Life Autism Anxiety alexithymia medicine.symptom 0305 other medical science Psychology social phobia 050104 developmental & child psychology Clinical psychology |
| Zdroj: | Autism |
| ISSN: | 1461-7005 1362-3613 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/1362361320936024 |
| Popis: | High alexithymic traits and psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and social phobia are frequently observed among adults with autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we tested whether alexithymic and/or autistic traits are risk factors for depressive and social phobic symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 122), patients with social interaction difficulties other than autism ( n = 62), and neurotypical participants ( n = 261). Multiple regression analyses of these three groups demonstrated that both traits explained considerable variance of depressive and social phobic symptoms. In adults with autism spectrum disorder, alexithymic traits were predictive of depressive symptoms, while autistic traits predicted social phobic symptoms. In patients with social interaction difficulties other than autism, alexithymic and autistic traits were identified as predictors of social phobic symptoms, while no variable predicted depressive symptoms. In neurotypicals, both alexithymic and autistic traits were predictive of depressive and social phobic symptoms. Our results, therefore, highlight the importance of assessing both alexithymic and autistic traits in patients with and without autism spectrum disorder for identifying comorbid psychopathology. Depending on the underlying core symptomatology, alexithymic and/or autistic traits increase the risk of depressive and social phobic symptoms calling for therapeutic strategies to prevent or at least reduce comorbid psychopathology. Lay abstract Adults with autism often develop mental health problems such as depression and social phobia. The reasons for this are still unclear. Many studies found that alexithymia plays an important role in mental health problems like depression. People with alexithymia have difficulties identifying and describing their emotions. Almost every second person with autism has alexithymia. Therefore, we explored in this study whether alexithymia is linked to worse mental health in autistic people. We looked at two common diagnoses, depression and social phobia. We found that alexithymia increased symptoms of depression, while autistic traits increased symptoms of social phobia. Our results suggest that alexithymia and autistic traits can increase the risk of mental health problems. An early assessment could help prevent mental health problems and improve quality of life. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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