Alexithymia and autism diagnostic assessments: Evidence from twins at genetic risk of autism and adults with anorexia nervosa / Hannah HOBSON in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 73 (May 2019)  

Public ISBD [article]  inResearch in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 73 (May 2019) . - 101531 Titre : Alexithymia and autism diagnostic assessments: Evidence from twins at genetic risk of autism and adults with anorexia nervosa Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Hannah HOBSON, Auteur ; Heather WESTWOOD, Auteur ; Jane CONWAY, Auteur ; Fiona S. MCEWEN, Auteur ; Emma COLVERT, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur ; Francesca HAPPE, Auteur Article en page(s) : 101531 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : ADOS  Alexithymia  Diagnosis  Autism  Anorexia nervosa Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Alexithymia, a difficulty identifying and communicating one’s own emotions, affects socio-emotional processes, such as emotion recognition and empathy. Co-occurring alexithymia is prevalent in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and underlies some socio-emotional difficulties usually attributed to autism. Socio-emotional abilities are examined during behavioural diagnostic assessments of autism, yet the effect of alexithymia on these assessments is not known. This study aimed to examine the associations between alexithymia and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) assessment scores. Method Two previously collected samples of ADOS assessments were used to examine the relationship between alexithymia and ADOS scores. Participants included 96 women with anorexia, and 147 adolescents who were either high in autistic symptoms, or whose twin had high autistic symptoms. We examined 1) the impact of alexithymia on meeting the criteria for autism/ASD, 2) correlations between alexithymia and ADOS subscales, and 3) whether alexithymia predicted scores on specific ADOS items, selected a priori based on existing literature. Results In the adolescent group, parent-reported (but not self-reported) alexithymia correlated with both ADOS sub-scales, predicted scores on ADOS items, and predicted meeting clinical cut-offs for an ASD/autism diagnosis. Few associations were observed in the anorexic sample between self-reported alexithymia and ADOS subscale and item scores, but the presence of alexithymia predicted the likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for autism/ASD in this sample. Conclusions Alexithymia does show relationships with ADOS assessment scores. We discuss potential clinical and research implications, particularly in studies of autism where the ADOS is often the only diagnostic measure used. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101531 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=421 [article] Alexithymia and autism diagnostic assessments: Evidence from twins at genetic risk of autism and adults with anorexia nervosa [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Hannah HOBSON, Auteur ; Heather WESTWOOD, Auteur ; Jane CONWAY, Auteur ; Fiona S. MCEWEN, Auteur ; Emma COLVERT, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur ; Francesca HAPPE, Auteur . - 101531. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 73 (May 2019) . - 101531 Mots-clés : ADOS  Alexithymia  Diagnosis  Autism  Anorexia nervosa Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Alexithymia, a difficulty identifying and communicating one’s own emotions, affects socio-emotional processes, such as emotion recognition and empathy. Co-occurring alexithymia is prevalent in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and underlies some socio-emotional difficulties usually attributed to autism. Socio-emotional abilities are examined during behavioural diagnostic assessments of autism, yet the effect of alexithymia on these assessments is not known. This study aimed to examine the associations between alexithymia and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) assessment scores. Method Two previously collected samples of ADOS assessments were used to examine the relationship between alexithymia and ADOS scores. Participants included 96 women with anorexia, and 147 adolescents who were either high in autistic symptoms, or whose twin had high autistic symptoms. We examined 1) the impact of alexithymia on meeting the criteria for autism/ASD, 2) correlations between alexithymia and ADOS subscales, and 3) whether alexithymia predicted scores on specific ADOS items, selected a priori based on existing literature. Results In the adolescent group, parent-reported (but not self-reported) alexithymia correlated with both ADOS sub-scales, predicted scores on ADOS items, and predicted meeting clinical cut-offs for an ASD/autism diagnosis. Few associations were observed in the anorexic sample between self-reported alexithymia and ADOS subscale and item scores, but the presence of alexithymia predicted the likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for autism/ASD in this sample. Conclusions Alexithymia does show relationships with ADOS assessment scores. We discuss potential clinical and research implications, particularly in studies of autism where the ADOS is often the only diagnostic measure used. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101531 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=421

Are Autistic and Alexithymic Traits Distinct? A Factor-Analytic and Network Approach / Hélio Clemente CUVE in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52-5 (May 2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders > 52-5 (May 2022) . - p.2019-2034 Titre : Are Autistic and Alexithymic Traits Distinct? A Factor-Analytic and Network Approach Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Hélio Clemente CUVE, Auteur ; Jennifer MURPHY, Auteur ; Hannah HOBSON, Auteur ; Eri ICHIJO, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.2019-2034 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Affective Symptoms/diagnosis/psychology  Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis/psychology  Autistic Disorder/diagnosis/psychology  Humans  Phenotype  Alexithymia  Autism  Factor  Network  Separation Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Despite the heterogeneity in autism, socioemotional difficulties are often framed as universal. Increasing evidence, however, suggests that socioemotional difficulties may be explained by alexithymia, a distinct yet frequently co-occurring condition. If, as some propose, autistic traits are responsible for socioemotional impairments, then alexithymia may itself be a symptom of autism. We aimed to determine whether alexithymia should be considered a product of autism or regarded as a separate condition. Using factor-analytic and network approaches, we provide evidence that alexithymic and autistic traits are distinct. We argue that: (1) models of socioemotional processing in autism should conceptualise difficulties as intrinsic to alexithymia; and (2) assessment of alexithymia is crucial for diagnosis and personalised interventions. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05094-6 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=476 [article] Are Autistic and Alexithymic Traits Distinct? A Factor-Analytic and Network Approach [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Hélio Clemente CUVE, Auteur ; Jennifer MURPHY, Auteur ; Hannah HOBSON, Auteur ; Eri ICHIJO, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur . - p.2019-2034. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders > 52-5 (May 2022) . - p.2019-2034 Mots-clés : Affective Symptoms/diagnosis/psychology  Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis/psychology  Autistic Disorder/diagnosis/psychology  Humans  Phenotype  Alexithymia  Autism  Factor  Network  Separation Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Despite the heterogeneity in autism, socioemotional difficulties are often framed as universal. Increasing evidence, however, suggests that socioemotional difficulties may be explained by alexithymia, a distinct yet frequently co-occurring condition. If, as some propose, autistic traits are responsible for socioemotional impairments, then alexithymia may itself be a symptom of autism. We aimed to determine whether alexithymia should be considered a product of autism or regarded as a separate condition. Using factor-analytic and network approaches, we provide evidence that alexithymic and autistic traits are distinct. We argue that: (1) models of socioemotional processing in autism should conceptualise difficulties as intrinsic to alexithymia; and (2) assessment of alexithymia is crucial for diagnosis and personalised interventions. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05094-6 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=476

Autism and transgender identity: Implications for depression and anxiety / Jennifer MURPHY in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 69 (January 2020)  

Public ISBD [article]  inResearch in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 69 (January 2020) . - p.101466 Titre : Autism and transgender identity: Implications for depression and anxiety Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Jennifer MURPHY, Auteur ; Freya PRENTICE, Auteur ; Reubs J. WALSH, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.101466 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Gender identity  Autism  Transgender  Gender variance  Depression  Anxiety Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic traits are over-represented in transgender populations, and gender variance is high in autistic individuals. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that the autism/transgender overlap is limited to individuals sex assigned female. Few studies, however, have investigated the impact of this overlap on mental health. This study therefore sought to investigate whether the autism/transgender overlap confers an increased risk of depression or anxiety. An online study of 727 individuals revealed a substantial overlap between transgender identity and autism, with increased autistic traits found in trans men compared to trans women. Depression and anxiety were highest in autistic-trans individuals, but no superadditive effect was observed. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the wider healthcare system. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101466 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=412 [article] Autism and transgender identity: Implications for depression and anxiety [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Jennifer MURPHY, Auteur ; Freya PRENTICE, Auteur ; Reubs J. WALSH, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur . - p.101466. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 69 (January 2020) . - p.101466 Mots-clés : Gender identity  Autism  Transgender  Gender variance  Depression  Anxiety Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic traits are over-represented in transgender populations, and gender variance is high in autistic individuals. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that the autism/transgender overlap is limited to individuals sex assigned female. Few studies, however, have investigated the impact of this overlap on mental health. This study therefore sought to investigate whether the autism/transgender overlap confers an increased risk of depression or anxiety. An online study of 727 individuals revealed a substantial overlap between transgender identity and autism, with increased autistic traits found in trans men compared to trans women. Depression and anxiety were highest in autistic-trans individuals, but no superadditive effect was observed. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the wider healthcare system. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101466 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=412

Can Neurotypical Individuals Read Autistic Facial Expressions? Atypical Production of Emotional Facial Expressions in Autism Spectrum Disorders / Rebecca BREWER in Autism Research, 9-2 (February 2016)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 9-2 (February 2016) . - p.262-271 Titre : Can Neurotypical Individuals Read Autistic Facial Expressions? Atypical Production of Emotional Facial Expressions in Autism Spectrum Disorders Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Rebecca BREWER, Auteur ; Federica BIOTTI, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Clare PRESS, Auteur ; Francesca HAPPE, Auteur ; Richard COOK, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.262-271 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : social cognition  face perception  cognitive neuroscience  expression production Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : The difficulties encountered by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when interacting with neurotypical (NT, i.e. nonautistic) individuals are usually attributed to failure to recognize the emotions and mental states of their NT interaction partner. It is also possible, however, that at least some of the difficulty is due to a failure of NT individuals to read the mental and emotional states of ASD interaction partners. Previous research has frequently observed deficits of typical facial emotion recognition in individuals with ASD, suggesting atypical representations of emotional expressions. Relatively little research, however, has investigated the ability of individuals with ASD to produce recognizable emotional expressions, and thus, whether NT individuals can recognize autistic emotional expressions. The few studies which have investigated this have used only NT observers, making it impossible to determine whether atypical representations are shared among individuals with ASD, or idiosyncratic. This study investigated NT and ASD participants’ ability to recognize emotional expressions produced by NT and ASD posers. Three posing conditions were included, to determine whether potential group differences are due to atypical cognitive representations of emotion, impaired understanding of the communicative value of expressions, or poor proprioceptive feedback. Results indicated that ASD expressions were recognized less well than NT expressions, and that this is likely due to a genuine deficit in the representation of typical emotional expressions in this population. Further, ASD expressions were equally poorly recognized by NT individuals and those with ASD, implicating idiosyncratic, rather than common, atypical representations of emotional expressions in ASD. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1508 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=282 [article] Can Neurotypical Individuals Read Autistic Facial Expressions? Atypical Production of Emotional Facial Expressions in Autism Spectrum Disorders [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Rebecca BREWER, Auteur ; Federica BIOTTI, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Clare PRESS, Auteur ; Francesca HAPPE, Auteur ; Richard COOK, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur . - p.262-271. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 9-2 (February 2016) . - p.262-271 Mots-clés : social cognition  face perception  cognitive neuroscience  expression production Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : The difficulties encountered by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when interacting with neurotypical (NT, i.e. nonautistic) individuals are usually attributed to failure to recognize the emotions and mental states of their NT interaction partner. It is also possible, however, that at least some of the difficulty is due to a failure of NT individuals to read the mental and emotional states of ASD interaction partners. Previous research has frequently observed deficits of typical facial emotion recognition in individuals with ASD, suggesting atypical representations of emotional expressions. Relatively little research, however, has investigated the ability of individuals with ASD to produce recognizable emotional expressions, and thus, whether NT individuals can recognize autistic emotional expressions. The few studies which have investigated this have used only NT observers, making it impossible to determine whether atypical representations are shared among individuals with ASD, or idiosyncratic. This study investigated NT and ASD participants’ ability to recognize emotional expressions produced by NT and ASD posers. Three posing conditions were included, to determine whether potential group differences are due to atypical cognitive representations of emotion, impaired understanding of the communicative value of expressions, or poor proprioceptive feedback. Results indicated that ASD expressions were recognized less well than NT expressions, and that this is likely due to a genuine deficit in the representation of typical emotional expressions in this population. Further, ASD expressions were equally poorly recognized by NT individuals and those with ASD, implicating idiosyncratic, rather than common, atypical representations of emotional expressions in ASD. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1508 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=282

Childhood language development and alexithymia in adolescence: an 8-year longitudinal study / Ka Shu LEE in Development and Psychopathology, 37-3 (August 2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inDevelopment and Psychopathology > 37-3 (August 2025) . - p.1165-1175 Titre : Childhood language development and alexithymia in adolescence: an 8-year longitudinal study Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Ka Shu LEE, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.1165-1175 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : alexithymia  emotional awareness  language development  longitudinal  structural language Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Alexithymia (difficulties identifying and describing feelings) predicts increased risks for psychopathology, especially during the transition from childhood to adolescence. However, little is known of the early contributors to alexithymia. The language hypothesis of alexithymia suggests that language deficits play a primary role in predisposing language-impaired groups to developing alexithymia; yet longitudinal data tracking prospective relationship between language function and alexithymia are scarce. Leveraging data from the Surrey Communication and Language in Education cohort (N = 229, mean age at time point 1 = 5.32 years, SD = 0.29, 51.1% female), we investigated the prospective link between childhood language development and alexithymic traits in adolescence. Results indicated that boys with low language function at ages 4-5 years, and those who later met the diagnostic criteria for language disorders at ages 5-6 years, reported elevated alexithymic traits when they reached adolescence. Parent-reported child syntax abilities at ages 5-6 years revealed a dimensional relationship with alexithymic traits, and this was consistent with behavioral assessments on related structural language abilities. Empirically derived language groups and latent language trajectories did not predict alexithymic traits in adolescence. While findings support the language hypothesis of alexithymia, greater specificity of the alexithymia construct in developmental populations is needed to guide clinical interventions. En ligne : https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/216BD9A2CAA8AABB19A43F522257EFFD Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=564 [article] Childhood language development and alexithymia in adolescence: an 8-year longitudinal study [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Ka Shu LEE, Auteur ; Caroline CATMUR, Auteur ; Geoffrey BIRD, Auteur . - p.1165-1175. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Development and Psychopathology > 37-3 (August 2025) . - p.1165-1175 Mots-clés : alexithymia  emotional awareness  language development  longitudinal  structural language Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Alexithymia (difficulties identifying and describing feelings) predicts increased risks for psychopathology, especially during the transition from childhood to adolescence. However, little is known of the early contributors to alexithymia. The language hypothesis of alexithymia suggests that language deficits play a primary role in predisposing language-impaired groups to developing alexithymia; yet longitudinal data tracking prospective relationship between language function and alexithymia are scarce. Leveraging data from the Surrey Communication and Language in Education cohort (N = 229, mean age at time point 1 = 5.32 years, SD = 0.29, 51.1% female), we investigated the prospective link between childhood language development and alexithymic traits in adolescence. Results indicated that boys with low language function at ages 4-5 years, and those who later met the diagnostic criteria for language disorders at ages 5-6 years, reported elevated alexithymic traits when they reached adolescence. Parent-reported child syntax abilities at ages 5-6 years revealed a dimensional relationship with alexithymic traits, and this was consistent with behavioral assessments on related structural language abilities. Empirically derived language groups and latent language trajectories did not predict alexithymic traits in adolescence. While findings support the language hypothesis of alexithymia, greater specificity of the alexithymia construct in developmental populations is needed to guide clinical interventions. En ligne : https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/216BD9A2CAA8AABB19A43F522257EFFD Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=564

Emotional decision-making in autism spectrum disorder: the roles of interoception and alexithymia / P. SHAH in Molecular Autism, 7 (2016)  

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Face memory and face perception in autism / M. STANTI? in Autism, 26-1 (January 2022)  

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Intact Automatic Imitation and Typical Spatial Compatibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenging the Broken Mirror Theory / Sophie SOWDEN in Autism Research, 9-2 (February 2016)  

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