Investigating emotional impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorders and the broader autism phenotype

Sylvie Berthoz, Christophe Lalanne, Laura Crane, Elisabeth L. Hill
Psychiatry Research. 2013-08-01; 208(3): 257-264
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.05.014

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1. Psychiatry Res. 2013 Aug 15;208(3):257-64. doi:
10.1016/j.psychres.2013.05.014. Epub 2013 Jun 6.

Investigating emotional impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorders and
the broader autism phenotype.

Berthoz S(1), Lalanne C, Crane L, Hill EL.

Author information:
(1)Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U669),
Maison de Solenn-Cochin, Paris, France.

There is an increasing interest in the socio-affective atypicalities observed in
adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to further
explore emotional responsiveness in adults with ASD using well-validated
self-reports of alexithymia and to determine whether anhedonic features are part
of a broader autism phenotype (BAP). Participants comprised 38 adults with ASD,
87 parents of ASD individuals and 47 typical controls. All participants
completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia
Scale, and the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire, as well as the Chapman
Physical and Social Anhedonia Scales. The ASD group differed from controls and
parents on most measures, with the exception of physical and social anhedonia,
relative to parents. Parents differed from controls on social anhedonia, and a
higher proportion of parents were classed as alexithymic, relative to controls.
Cluster analysis revealed that some parents share more similarities with ASD
participants than with controls. The results suggest that socio-affective
impairments characteristic of ASD are part of the BAP.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.05.014
PMID: 23747233 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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