Autism and chronic ill health: an observational study of symptoms and diagnoses of central sensitivity syndromes in autistic adults / Sean 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 Auteurs : Sean GRANT, Auteur ; Sam NORTON, Auteur ; Ricarda F. WEILAND, Auteur ; Anke M. SCHEEREN, Auteur ; Sander BEGEER, Auteur ; Rosa 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] / Sean GRANT, Auteur ; Sam NORTON, Auteur ; Ricarda F. WEILAND, Auteur ; Anke M. SCHEEREN, Auteur ; Sander BEGEER, Auteur ; Rosa 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

Central Sensitivity Symptoms and Autistic Traits in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults / Sarah GRANT in Autism Research, 18-3 (March 2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 18-3 (March 2025) . - p.660-674 Titre : Central Sensitivity Symptoms and Autistic Traits in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Sarah GRANT, Auteur ; Sam NORTON, Auteur ; Rosa A. HOEKSTRA, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.660-674 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  central sensitisation  chronic pain  fatigue  fibromyalgia  sensory processing  sensory sensitivity Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : ABSTRACT Central sensitivity syndromes (CSSs) are a group of health conditions thought to include an underlying sensitisation of the central nervous system. Evidence suggests autistic adults experience poorer physical health than the general population and are more likely to have a CSS. This study examined CSS diagnoses and symptoms in autistic and non-autistic adults, to determine whether CSS symptoms were related to autistic traits, mental health, sensory sensitivity, age or gender. Participants included 534 adults with clinical diagnoses of autism, CSS, both diagnoses or neither (i.e., comparison group), who were recruited through social media, support groups and institutional affiliations. Participants completed online self-report validated questionnaires, including the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ), and the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Autistic people without a diagnosed CSS reported significantly more CSS symptoms than the comparison group, with a mean score above the clinical cut-off. Non-autistic participants with a CSS had significantly more autistic traits than the comparison group. Autistic people with a CSS reported the most sensory sensitivity, with autism only and CSS only groups reporting similar levels of sensory sensitivity and all diagnostic groups reporting more sensory sensitivity than the comparison group. Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, autistic traits, age and gender were all significant predictors of CSS symptoms. The overlap in symptoms between autistic individuals and those with CSS suggests diagnostic overshadowing and possible under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Furthermore, these symptoms may exacerbate or mask one another. Notwithstanding potential limitations of representativeness and selection bias, increased awareness of the association between autistic traits and CSS symptoms is important for clinicians to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3297 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=550 [article] Central Sensitivity Symptoms and Autistic Traits in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults [texte imprimé] / Sarah GRANT, Auteur ; Sam NORTON, Auteur ; Rosa A. HOEKSTRA, Auteur . - p.660-674. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 18-3 (March 2025) . - p.660-674 Mots-clés : autism  central sensitisation  chronic pain  fatigue  fibromyalgia  sensory processing  sensory sensitivity Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : ABSTRACT Central sensitivity syndromes (CSSs) are a group of health conditions thought to include an underlying sensitisation of the central nervous system. Evidence suggests autistic adults experience poorer physical health than the general population and are more likely to have a CSS. This study examined CSS diagnoses and symptoms in autistic and non-autistic adults, to determine whether CSS symptoms were related to autistic traits, mental health, sensory sensitivity, age or gender. Participants included 534 adults with clinical diagnoses of autism, CSS, both diagnoses or neither (i.e., comparison group), who were recruited through social media, support groups and institutional affiliations. Participants completed online self-report validated questionnaires, including the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ), and the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Autistic people without a diagnosed CSS reported significantly more CSS symptoms than the comparison group, with a mean score above the clinical cut-off. Non-autistic participants with a CSS had significantly more autistic traits than the comparison group. Autistic people with a CSS reported the most sensory sensitivity, with autism only and CSS only groups reporting similar levels of sensory sensitivity and all diagnostic groups reporting more sensory sensitivity than the comparison group. Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, autistic traits, age and gender were all significant predictors of CSS symptoms. The overlap in symptoms between autistic individuals and those with CSS suggests diagnostic overshadowing and possible under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Furthermore, these symptoms may exacerbate or mask one another. Notwithstanding potential limitations of representativeness and selection bias, increased awareness of the association between autistic traits and CSS symptoms is important for clinicians to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3297 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=550

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