The association between early autistic traits and psychotic experiences in adolescence
- PMID: 22245185
- DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.11.037
The association between early autistic traits and psychotic experiences in adolescence
Abstract
Background: There has been growing interest in the clinical and biological links between autistic spectrum disorder and psychotic disorders, and between symptoms of these disorders that exist below diagnostic thresholds. Whilst autism and schizophrenia are regarded as distinct disorders, recent studies support an overlap in the genetic architecture across these conditions. Although early neurodevelopmental impairment is associated with psychotic disorders in later life, evidence from longitudinal studies of the relationship between autistic traits and psychotic experiences is limited. Aims The aim of the study is to explore whether children with early autistic traits (social interaction and communication problems, and restricted, repetitive interests and behaviours) are more likely to present with psychotic experiences in early adolescence.
Method: Longitudinal study using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort. The mothers of 8232 children were asked about autistic traits in their children as part of the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) at the age of 7. Of those, 6439 children completed a semi-structured clinical assessment for psychotic experiences at the age of 12.
Results: Children whose mothers had concerns about autistic traits in early life, in particular with regard to speech development or 'rituals'/'habits', were more likely to develop psychotic experiences in early adolescence. The greater the number of early autistic traits a child had, the greater their risk of developing psychotic experiences. These associations were not confounded by IQ, family history of depression or schizophrenia, gender or socio-demographic characteristics.
Conclusions: Childhood autistic traits, and particularly speech problems and odd rituals or unusual habits, are associated with psychotic experiences in adolescence. This may be a result of a shared aetiology or because autistic traits may also be an early precursor of psychotic experiences.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comment in
-
Some childhood autistic traits are associated with psychotic experiences in early adolescence.Evid Based Ment Health. 2012 Aug;15(3):69. doi: 10.1136/ebmental-2012-100714. Epub 2012 Jun 7. Evid Based Ment Health. 2012. PMID: 22679246 No abstract available.
Similar articles
-
Childhood Trauma As a Mediator of the Association Between Autistic Traits and Psychotic Experiences: Evidence From the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Cohort.Schizophr Bull. 2023 Mar 15;49(2):364-374. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbac167. Schizophr Bull. 2023. PMID: 36434745 Free PMC article.
-
Longitudinal associations between psychotic experiences and disordered eating behaviours in adolescence: a UK population-based study.Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2018 Aug;2(8):591-599. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30180-9. Epub 2018 Jun 22. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2018. PMID: 30119718 Free PMC article.
-
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort as a resource for studying psychopathology in childhood and adolescence: a summary of findings for depression and psychosis.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2015 Jul;50(7):1017-27. doi: 10.1007/s00127-015-1072-8. Epub 2015 May 23. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2015. PMID: 26002411 Review.
-
"Autism-plus" spectrum disorders: intersection with psychosis and the schizophrenia spectrum.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2013 Oct;22(4):609-27. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2013.04.005. Epub 2013 Jun 18. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2013. PMID: 24012076 Review.
-
The association between autism spectrum disorder and psychotic experiences in the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (ALSPAC) birth cohort.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013 Aug;52(8):806-814.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.010. Epub 2013 Jun 24. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013. PMID: 23880491
Cited by
-
An Explanatory Model to Predict Pediatric Psychosis Spectrum Based on Parent Psychiatric Profile and Children and Adolescents Comorbid Disorders as a Mediator Construct.Iran J Psychiatry. 2024 Feb;19(2):229-237. doi: 10.18502/ijps.v19i2.15109. Iran J Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38686308 Free PMC article.
-
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Early Psychosis: a narrative review from a neurodevelopmental perspective.Front Psychiatry. 2024 Mar 20;15:1362511. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1362511. eCollection 2024. Front Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38571993 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Aberrant uncertainty processing is linked to psychotic-like experiences, autistic traits, and is reflected in pupil dilation during probabilistic learning.Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2023 Jun;23(3):905-919. doi: 10.3758/s13415-023-01088-2. Epub 2023 Mar 28. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2023. PMID: 36977966 Free PMC article.
-
Childhood Trauma As a Mediator of the Association Between Autistic Traits and Psychotic Experiences: Evidence From the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Cohort.Schizophr Bull. 2023 Mar 15;49(2):364-374. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbac167. Schizophr Bull. 2023. PMID: 36434745 Free PMC article.
-
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Apr;52(4):1568-1586. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05046-0. Epub 2021 May 15. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022. PMID: 33993403 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical