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

Abstract

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.

Investigating the Relationship between Autistic Traits, Ruminative Thinking, and Suicidality in a Clinical Sample of Subjects with Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder

“…Comparing BD and BPD groups, our findings reported, in the BPD group, significantly lower scores on all AdAS Spectrum domains than in the BD one (with the exception of AdAS Spectrum Childhood/Adolescence domain, for which no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups). In particular, while BD subjects scored very close to 70 (specifically, 69.45 ± 27.12), which is the AdAS Spectrum threshold for the presence of ASD clinical symptoms, BPD subjects scored around 51, which is far below that threshold but still beyond the AdAS Spectrum threshold of 43, which marks the presence of relevant autistic traits [ 54 ]. These findings may lead to hypothesize a greater load of autism spectrum features and, possibly, of neurodevelopmental alteration severity, in BD than in BPD [ 55 ].…”

Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

“…Two cutoff scores were identified for this instrument: scoring over 43 suggests the presence of significant ATs, whereas scoring over 70 indicates a high risk for the presence of full-threshold ASD symptoms. 45 Camouflaging AT Questionnaire…”

A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter?

“…Upon discharge, after 4 weeks, Mr. R was prescribed olanzapine 20 mg/day, paroxetine 10 mg/day and lorazepam 2 mg/day as maintenance therapy and administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5), the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) [ 6 ] and the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) [ 7 ]. He reported a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with catatonic features, with comorbid panic disorder and a clinically significant level of autistic traits [ 8 ] (see Table 1 ). The patient also gave written informed consent to the processing of health data for research purposes.…”