Exploring autistic traits in adults with chronic depression : A clinical study

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14210%2F19%3A00134849" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14210/19:00134849 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1Z8vD6E7eDENmT" target="_blank" >https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1Z8vD6E7eDENmT</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.04.006" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.rasd.2019.04.006</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Exploring autistic traits in adults with chronic depression : A clinical study

Original language description

Background Chronic depression is characterized by persistent or recurrent depressive symptoms, defined according to DSM criteria, and is associated with lack of empathy; deficits in social perception, interaction, and communication; and social withdrawal. These symptoms are reminiscent of autism spectrum disorders, yet the co-occurrence of autistic traits and chronic depression has been rarely explored. We explored measures of autistic traits in chronically depressed adult patients in order to further define and delineate the overlap of symptoms between chronic depression and autism spectrum disorders. Method Three groups were tested: 31 patients with chronic depression, 27 patients with autism spectrum disorder, and 31 healthy controls. The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ) were used to measure autistic traits. The severity of depression was measured by Beck’s Depression Inventory. Results The group of chronically depressed patients showed significantly elevated autistic traits according to both AQ and EQ measures. In addition, 48.4% of the patients with chronic depression showed AQ scores within the range of the broader autistic phenotype. Similar scores were found among 3.2% of the healthy controls and 100% of the patients with autism spectrum disorder. Conclusions About half of the chronically depressed patients showed elevated autistic or autism-like traits. It remained unclear whether this was due to the state of chronic depression or a kind of premorbid autistic personality trait. The findings illustrate the need for further research to clarify the possible role of autistic traits in the development of chronic depression. Furthermore, they reveal that it might be clinically useful to focus on autism-like social impairments in therapy for chronic depression.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

50102 - Psychology, special (including therapy for learning, speech, hearing, visual and other physical and mental disabilities);

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

ISSN

1750-9467

e-ISSN

1878-0237

Volume of the periodical

65

Issue of the periodical within the volume

9

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

34-45

UT code for WoS article

000474504900004

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85066267069