Autism and chronic ill health: an observational study of symptoms and diagnoses of central sensitivity syndromes in autistic adults / S. GRANT in Molecular Autism, 13 (2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 13 (2022) . - 7p. Titre : Autism and chronic ill health: an observational study of symptoms and diagnoses of central sensitivity syndromes in autistic adults Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : S. GRANT, Auteur ; S. NORTON, Auteur ; R. F. WEILAND, Auteur ; Anke M. SCHEEREN, Auteur ; Sander BEGEER, Auteur ; R. A. HOEKSTRA, Auteur Article en page(s) : 7p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autism  Central sensitisation  Chronic pain  Fatigue  Fibromyalgia  Sensory processing  Sensory sensitivity Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Autistic adults, particularly women, are more likely to experience chronic ill health than the general population. Central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) are a group of related conditions that are thought to include an underlying sensitisation of the central nervous system; heightened sensory sensitivity is a common feature. Anecdotal evidence suggests autistic adults may be more prone to developing a CSS. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of CSS diagnoses and symptoms in autistic adults, and to explore whether CSS symptoms were related to autistic traits, mental health, sensory sensitivity, or gender. METHODS: The full sample of participants included 973 autistic adults (410 men, 563 women, mean age?=?44.6) registered at the Netherlands Autism Register, who completed questionnaires assessing autistic traits, sensory sensitivity, CSS, physical and mental health symptoms. The reliability and validity of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) in an autistic sample was established using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Chi(2) analyses, independent t-tests, hierarchical regression and path analysis were used to analyse relationships between CSS symptoms, autistic traits, measures of mental health and wellbeing, sensory sensitivity, age and gender. RESULTS: 21% of participants reported one or more CSS diagnosis, and 60% scored at or above the clinical cut-off for a CSS. Autistic women were more likely to report a CSS diagnosis and experienced more CSS symptoms than men. Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, age and gender were significant predictors of CSS symptoms, with sensory sensitivity and anxiety fully mediating the relationship between autistic traits and CSS symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Although this study included a large sample of autistic adults, we did not have a control group or a CSS only group. We also could not include a non-binary group due to lack of statistical power. CONCLUSIONS: CSS diagnoses and symptoms appear to be very common in the autistic population. Increased awareness of an association between autism and central sensitisation should inform clinicians and guide diagnostic practice, particularly for women where CSS are common and autism under recognised. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00486-6 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=459 [article] Autism and chronic ill health: an observational study of symptoms and diagnoses of central sensitivity syndromes in autistic adults [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / S. GRANT, Auteur ; S. NORTON, Auteur ; R. F. WEILAND, Auteur ; Anke M. SCHEEREN, Auteur ; Sander BEGEER, Auteur ; R. A. HOEKSTRA, Auteur . - 7p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 13 (2022) . - 7p. Mots-clés : Autism  Central sensitisation  Chronic pain  Fatigue  Fibromyalgia  Sensory processing  Sensory sensitivity Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Autistic adults, particularly women, are more likely to experience chronic ill health than the general population. Central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) are a group of related conditions that are thought to include an underlying sensitisation of the central nervous system; heightened sensory sensitivity is a common feature. Anecdotal evidence suggests autistic adults may be more prone to developing a CSS. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of CSS diagnoses and symptoms in autistic adults, and to explore whether CSS symptoms were related to autistic traits, mental health, sensory sensitivity, or gender. METHODS: The full sample of participants included 973 autistic adults (410 men, 563 women, mean age?=?44.6) registered at the Netherlands Autism Register, who completed questionnaires assessing autistic traits, sensory sensitivity, CSS, physical and mental health symptoms. The reliability and validity of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) in an autistic sample was established using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Chi(2) analyses, independent t-tests, hierarchical regression and path analysis were used to analyse relationships between CSS symptoms, autistic traits, measures of mental health and wellbeing, sensory sensitivity, age and gender. RESULTS: 21% of participants reported one or more CSS diagnosis, and 60% scored at or above the clinical cut-off for a CSS. Autistic women were more likely to report a CSS diagnosis and experienced more CSS symptoms than men. Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, age and gender were significant predictors of CSS symptoms, with sensory sensitivity and anxiety fully mediating the relationship between autistic traits and CSS symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Although this study included a large sample of autistic adults, we did not have a control group or a CSS only group. We also could not include a non-binary group due to lack of statistical power. CONCLUSIONS: CSS diagnoses and symptoms appear to be very common in the autistic population. Increased awareness of an association between autism and central sensitisation should inform clinicians and guide diagnostic practice, particularly for women where CSS are common and autism under recognised. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00486-6 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=459

Evaluating the latent structure of the non-social domain of autism in autistic adults / R. GROVE in Molecular Autism, 12 (2021)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 12 (2021) . - 22 p. Titre : Evaluating the latent structure of the non-social domain of autism in autistic adults Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : R. GROVE, Auteur ; Sander BEGEER, Auteur ; Anke M. SCHEEREN, Auteur ; R. F. WEILAND, Auteur ; R. A. HOEKSTRA, Auteur Article en page(s) : 22 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Adolescent  Adult  Aged  Aged, 80 and over  Autistic Disorder/psychology  Female  Humans  Male  Middle Aged  Psychiatric Status Rating Scales  Young Adult  Adults  Autism  Non-social autistic traits  Repetitive behaviours Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: The social domain of autism has been studied in depth, but the relationship between the non-social traits of autism has received less attention. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines four criteria that make up the non-social domain including repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, restricted interests and sensory sensitivity. There is a lack of research into the relationship between these four criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the non-social traits of autism in a large sample of autistic adults. It explored whether these traits are best conceptualised as four distinct factors, or exist along a single dimension. METHODS: Participants included autistic adults from the Netherlands Autism Register. The four components identified within the DSM-5 non-social domain were measured by items from the Adult Routines Inventory, the Autism Spectrum Quotient short and the Sensory Perception Quotient short. Confirmatory factor analysis, as well as exploratory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modelling, was implemented to examine the relationship between these four criteria. RESULTS: Results indicated that a four-factor model provided the best fit, mapping onto the DSM-5 criteria. These four factors were moderately correlated, suggesting that four distinct, yet related factors best describe the non-social domain of autism. The one-factor model did not provide a good fit, highlighting that the non-social domain of autism is not a unitary construct. LIMITATIONS: The study included autistic adults who were cognitively able to complete the self-report measures. This may limit the generalisability of the findings to those who are less able to do so. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence for the multidimensional nature of the non-social domain of autism. Given only two of the four criteria within the non-social domain need to be endorsed for a diagnosis of autism, there is room for substantial variation across individuals, who will have a unique profile within the non-social domain. The results have implications for our understanding of the heterogeneous nature of autistic traits, as well as for how we conceptualise autism as a diagnostic category. This is important for the provision of diagnosis and support within research and clinical practice. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-020-00401-x Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=459 [article] Evaluating the latent structure of the non-social domain of autism in autistic adults [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / R. GROVE, Auteur ; Sander BEGEER, Auteur ; Anke M. SCHEEREN, Auteur ; R. F. WEILAND, Auteur ; R. A. HOEKSTRA, Auteur . - 22 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 12 (2021) . - 22 p. Mots-clés : Adolescent  Adult  Aged  Aged, 80 and over  Autistic Disorder/psychology  Female  Humans  Male  Middle Aged  Psychiatric Status Rating Scales  Young Adult  Adults  Autism  Non-social autistic traits  Repetitive behaviours Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: The social domain of autism has been studied in depth, but the relationship between the non-social traits of autism has received less attention. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines four criteria that make up the non-social domain including repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, restricted interests and sensory sensitivity. There is a lack of research into the relationship between these four criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the non-social traits of autism in a large sample of autistic adults. It explored whether these traits are best conceptualised as four distinct factors, or exist along a single dimension. METHODS: Participants included autistic adults from the Netherlands Autism Register. The four components identified within the DSM-5 non-social domain were measured by items from the Adult Routines Inventory, the Autism Spectrum Quotient short and the Sensory Perception Quotient short. Confirmatory factor analysis, as well as exploratory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modelling, was implemented to examine the relationship between these four criteria. RESULTS: Results indicated that a four-factor model provided the best fit, mapping onto the DSM-5 criteria. These four factors were moderately correlated, suggesting that four distinct, yet related factors best describe the non-social domain of autism. The one-factor model did not provide a good fit, highlighting that the non-social domain of autism is not a unitary construct. LIMITATIONS: The study included autistic adults who were cognitively able to complete the self-report measures. This may limit the generalisability of the findings to those who are less able to do so. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence for the multidimensional nature of the non-social domain of autism. Given only two of the four criteria within the non-social domain need to be endorsed for a diagnosis of autism, there is room for substantial variation across individuals, who will have a unique profile within the non-social domain. The results have implications for our understanding of the heterogeneous nature of autistic traits, as well as for how we conceptualise autism as a diagnostic category. This is important for the provision of diagnosis and support within research and clinical practice. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-020-00401-x Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=459

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