The utility of the autism-spectrum quotient to screen for autism spectrum disorder in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Bemmouna, Doha; Weibel, Sébastien; Kosel, Markus; Hasler, Roland; Weiner, Luisa; Perroud, Nader

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114580

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…ADHD traits were equivalent between the ASD and BPD groups, but the ADHD cooccurrence was higher in ASD compared to BPD (34% in the ASD group and 24% in the BPD group). This could be due to an increased awareness among clinicians of the high co-occurrence between ADHD and ASD and their shared neurodevelopmental nature, which might increase the likelihood of screening for ADHD in autistic people [119,120]. Moreover, alexithymia scores were found to be similar in our clinical groups, but also across genders in the ASD group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

Bemmouna,

Lagzouli,

Weiner

2023

Preprint

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Background Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a core symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD), whose etiology has been attributed to biosocial factors. In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although ED is prevalent and is associated with decreased well-being (e.g., self-harm, suicidality), it has been understudied, especially in adults. It is therefore crucial to further understand ED in autistic adults to improve its treatment. Our study investigates ED, its behavioural correlates (e.g., self-harm, suicidality) and biosocial predictors in autistic adults relative to BPD and nonclinical controls (NC). Methods 724 participants (ASD = 154; BPD = 111; NC = 459) completed 11 self-reported questionnaires assessing ED, ASD and BPD traits, co-occurring disorders, alexithymia, emotional vulnerability and invalidating experiences (e.g., bullying, autistic camouflaging). The occurrence of ED behavioural correlates (i.e., self-harm, history of suicide attempts, and psychiatric hospitalizations) was collected. In addition, between-groups analyses, linear regressions and machine learning models (ML) were used to identify ED predictors in each group. Results ED and its behavioural correlates were higher in ASD compared to NC, but milder than in BPD. While gender did not predict ED scores, autistic women had increased risk factors to ED, including sexual abuse and camouflaging. Interestingly, BPD traits, emotional vulnerability, and alexithymia strongly predicted ED scores across the groups. Using ML models, sensory sensitivity and autistic camouflaging were associated with ED in ASD, and ADHD symptoms with ED in BPD. Limitations: ASD and BPD diagnoses were self-reported, which did not allow us to check their accuracy. Additionally, we did not explore the transactional and the moderating/mediating relationships between the different variables. Moreover, our research is cross-sectional and cannot draw conclusions regarding the direction and causality of relationships between ED and other clinical dimensions. Conclusions ED and its behavioural correlates are heightened in BPD compared to ASD and nonclinical controls. In the ASD group, there were no gender differences in ED, despite the heightened exposure of autistic women to ED risk factors. BPD traits, emotional vulnerability, and alexithymia are core to ED regardless of diagnosis. Although less central, sensory sensitivity and autistic camouflaging seem to be specific predictors of ED in autistic adults.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

Bemmouna,

Lagzouli,

Weiner

2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…ADHD traits were equivalent between the ASC and BPD groups, but the ADHD co-occurrence was higher in ASC compared to BPD (34% in the ASC group and 24% in the BPD group). This could be due to an increased awareness among clinicians of the high co-occurrence between ADHD and ASC and their shared neurodevelopmental nature, which might increase the likelihood of screening for ADHD in autistic people [ 119 , 120 ]. Moreover, alexithymia scores were found to be similar in our clinical groups, but also across genders in the ASC group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

Bemmouna,

Lagzouli,

Weiner

2023

Molecular Autism

Self Cite

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Background Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a core symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD), whose aetiology has been attributed to biosocial factors. In autism spectrum condition (ASC), although ED is prevalent and is associated with decreased well-being (e.g. self-harm, suicidality), it has been understudied, especially in adults. It is therefore crucial to further understand ED in autistic adults to improve its treatment. Our study investigates ED, its behavioural correlates (e.g. self-harm, suicidality) and biosocial predictors in autistic adults relative to BPD and nonclinical controls (NC). Methods A total of 724 participants (ASC = 154; BPD = 111; NC = 459) completed 11 self-reported questionnaires assessing ED, ASC and BPD traits, co-occurring disorders, alexithymia, emotional vulnerability and invalidating experiences (e.g. bullying, autistic camouflaging). The occurrence of ED behavioural correlates (i.e. self-harm, history of suicide attempts, and psychiatric hospitalizations) was collected. In addition, between-groups analyses, linear regressions and machine learning (ML) models were used to identify ED predictors in each group. Results ED and its behavioural correlates were higher in ASC compared to NC, but milder than in BPD. While gender did not predict ED scores, autistic women had increased risk factors to ED, including sexual abuse and camouflaging. Interestingly, BPD traits, emotional vulnerability and alexithymia strongly predicted ED scores across the groups. Using ML models, sensory sensitivity and autistic camouflaging were associated with ED in ASC, and ADHD symptoms with ED in BPD. Limitations ASC and BPD diagnoses were self-reported, which did not allow us to check their accuracy. Additionally, we did not explore the transactional and the moderating/mediating relationships between the different variables. Moreover, our research is cross-sectional and cannot draw conclusions regarding the direction and causality of relationships between ED and other clinical dimensions. Conclusions ED and its behavioural correlates are heightened in BPD compared to ASC and nonclinical controls. In the ASC group, there were no gender differences in ED, despite the heightened exposure of autistic women to ED risk factors. BPD traits, emotional vulnerability, and alexithymia are core to ED regardless of diagnosis. Although less central, sensory sensitivity and autistic camouflaging seem to be specific predictors of ED in autistic adults.

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Extended applications the subcutaneous esketamine for major depression with suicidal ideation in autism traits—Case report

Anzolin

Cordova

Goularte

et al. 2023

Psychiatry Research Case Reports

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The utility of the autism-spectrum quotient to screen for autism spectrum disorder in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Cited by 3 publications

References 70 publications

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls

Extended applications the subcutaneous esketamine for major depression with suicidal ideation in autism traits—Case report

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