Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 10/2008

01-11-2008 | Original Paper

Alexithymia in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Auteurs: Peter Szatmari, Stelios Georgiades, Eric Duku, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Jeremy Goldberg, Terry Bennett

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 10/2008

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Given the recent findings regarding the association between alexithymia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the accumulating evidence for the presence of the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP) in relatives of individuals with ASD, we further explored the construct of alexithymia in parents of children with ASD as a potential part of the BAP. We hypothesized that (a) parents of children with ASD will demonstrate higher impairment in their emotion processing when compared to controls, and (b) high impairment in emotion processing in parents will be associated with severity of symptoms in children with ASD. Psychometric and diagnostic data were collected on 188 children with a diagnosis of ASD. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was completed by 439 parents of children with ASD and a control group of 45 parents of children with Prader Willi syndrome (PW). Results show that ASD parents score higher than controls on the TAS-20 total score. Within the ASD group, children of fathers with high alexithymia score higher on repetitive behaviour symptoms compared to children of fathers with low alexithymia. The alexithymia trait appears to be one of the many building blocks that make up the BAP.
Literatuur
go back to reference American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
go back to reference Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D. A., & Taylor, G. J. (1994a). The twenty-item Toronto alexithymia scale I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 23–32.PubMedCrossRef Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D. A., & Taylor, G. J. (1994a). The twenty-item Toronto alexithymia scale I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 23–32.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bagby, R. M., Taylor, G. J., & Parker, J. D. A. (1994b). The twenty-item Toronto alexithymia scale II. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 33–40.PubMedCrossRef Bagby, R. M., Taylor, G. J., & Parker, J. D. A. (1994b). The twenty-item Toronto alexithymia scale II. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 33–40.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bagby, R. M., Taylor, G. J., Parker, J. D. A., & Dickens, S. E. (2006). The development of the Toronto structured interview for alexithymia: Item selection, factor structure, reliability and concurrent validity. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 74, 25–39.CrossRef Bagby, R. M., Taylor, G. J., Parker, J. D. A., & Dickens, S. E. (2006). The development of the Toronto structured interview for alexithymia: Item selection, factor structure, reliability and concurrent validity. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 74, 25–39.CrossRef
go back to reference Bailey, A., Le Couteur, A., Gottesman, I., Bolton, P., Simonoff, E., Yuzda, E., et al. (1995). Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: Evidence from a British twin study. Psychological Medicine, 25, 63–77.PubMed Bailey, A., Le Couteur, A., Gottesman, I., Bolton, P., Simonoff, E., Yuzda, E., et al. (1995). Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: Evidence from a British twin study. Psychological Medicine, 25, 63–77.PubMed
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S., Ring, H., Bullmore, E. T., Wheelwright, S., Ashwin, C., & Williams, S. C. (2000). The amygdala theory of autism. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 24, 355–364.CrossRef Baron-Cohen, S., Ring, H., Bullmore, E. T., Wheelwright, S., Ashwin, C., & Williams, S. C. (2000). The amygdala theory of autism. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 24, 355–364.CrossRef
go back to reference Ben Shalom, D., Mostofsky, S. H., Hazlett, R. L., Goldberg, M. C., Landa, R. J., Faran, Y., et al. (2006). Normal physiological emotions but differences in expression of conscious feelings in children with high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 395–400.PubMedCrossRef Ben Shalom, D., Mostofsky, S. H., Hazlett, R. L., Goldberg, M. C., Landa, R. J., Faran, Y., et al. (2006). Normal physiological emotions but differences in expression of conscious feelings in children with high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 395–400.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Berthoz, S., & Hill, E. L. (2005). The validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in adults with autism spectrum disorder. European Psychiatry, 20, 291–298.PubMedCrossRef Berthoz, S., & Hill, E. L. (2005). The validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in adults with autism spectrum disorder. European Psychiatry, 20, 291–298.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bölte, S., Feineis-Matthews, S., & Poustka, F. (2008). Brief report: Emotional processing in high-functioning autism-physiological reactivity and affective report. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 776–781.PubMedCrossRef Bölte, S., Feineis-Matthews, S., & Poustka, F. (2008). Brief report: Emotional processing in high-functioning autism-physiological reactivity and affective report. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 776–781.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bölte, S., & Poustka, F. (2003). The recognition of facial affect in first-degree relatives of individuals with autism and individuals with schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine, 33, 907–915.PubMedCrossRef Bölte, S., & Poustka, F. (2003). The recognition of facial affect in first-degree relatives of individuals with autism and individuals with schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine, 33, 907–915.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bolton, P., MacDonald, H., Pickles, A., Rios, P., Goode, S., Crowson, M., et al. (1994). A case-control family history study of autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35, 877–900.PubMedCrossRef Bolton, P., MacDonald, H., Pickles, A., Rios, P., Goode, S., Crowson, M., et al. (1994). A case-control family history study of autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35, 877–900.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Carlson, C. S., Eberle, M. A., Kruglyak, L., & Nickerson, D. A. (2004). Mapping complex disease loci in whole-genome association studies. Nature, 429(6990), 446–452.PubMedCrossRef Carlson, C. S., Eberle, M. A., Kruglyak, L., & Nickerson, D. A. (2004). Mapping complex disease loci in whole-genome association studies. Nature, 429(6990), 446–452.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Constantino, J. N., Lajonchere, C., Lutz, M., Gray, T., Abbacchi, A., McKenna, K., et al. (2006). Autistic social impairment in the siblings of children with pervasive developmental disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 294–296.PubMedCrossRef Constantino, J. N., Lajonchere, C., Lutz, M., Gray, T., Abbacchi, A., McKenna, K., et al. (2006). Autistic social impairment in the siblings of children with pervasive developmental disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 294–296.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Constantino, J. N., & Todd, R. D. (2005). Intergenerational transmission of sub threshold autistic traits in the general population. Biological Psychiatry, 57, 655–660.PubMedCrossRef Constantino, J. N., & Todd, R. D. (2005). Intergenerational transmission of sub threshold autistic traits in the general population. Biological Psychiatry, 57, 655–660.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Devine, H., Stewart, S. H., & Watt, M. C. (1999). Relations between anxiety sensitivity and dimensions of alexithymia in a young adult sample. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 47, 145–158.PubMedCrossRef Devine, H., Stewart, S. H., & Watt, M. C. (1999). Relations between anxiety sensitivity and dimensions of alexithymia in a young adult sample. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 47, 145–158.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Duvall, J. A., Lu, A., Cantor, R. M., Todd, R. D., Constantino, J. N., & Geschwind, D. H. (2007). A quantitative trait locus analysis of social responsiveness in multiplex autism families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 656–662.PubMedCrossRef Duvall, J. A., Lu, A., Cantor, R. M., Todd, R. D., Constantino, J. N., & Geschwind, D. H. (2007). A quantitative trait locus analysis of social responsiveness in multiplex autism families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 656–662.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Franz, M., Popp, K., Schaefer, R., Sitte, W., Schneider, C., Hardt, J., et al. (2008). Alexithymia in the German general population. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 43, 54–62.PubMedCrossRef Franz, M., Popp, K., Schaefer, R., Sitte, W., Schneider, C., Hardt, J., et al. (2008). Alexithymia in the German general population. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 43, 54–62.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Hill, E., Berthoz, S., & Frith, U. (2004). Brief report: Cognitive processing of own emotions in individuals with autistic spectrum disorder and in their relatives. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 229–235.PubMedCrossRef Hill, E., Berthoz, S., & Frith, U. (2004). Brief report: Cognitive processing of own emotions in individuals with autistic spectrum disorder and in their relatives. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 229–235.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Honkalampi, K., Hintikka, J., Laukkanen, E., Lehtonen, J., & Viinamäki, H. (2001) Alexithymia and depression: A prospective study of patients with major depressive disorder. Journal of Psychosomatics, 42, 229–234.CrossRef Honkalampi, K., Hintikka, J., Laukkanen, E., Lehtonen, J., & Viinamäki, H. (2001) Alexithymia and depression: A prospective study of patients with major depressive disorder. Journal of Psychosomatics, 42, 229–234.CrossRef
go back to reference Hus, V., Pickles, A., Cook, E. H., Jr., Risi, S., & Lord, C. (2007). Using the autism diagnostic interview-revised to increase phenotypic homogeneity in genetic studies of autism. Biological Psychiatry, 61, 438–448.PubMedCrossRef Hus, V., Pickles, A., Cook, E. H., Jr., Risi, S., & Lord, C. (2007). Using the autism diagnostic interview-revised to increase phenotypic homogeneity in genetic studies of autism. Biological Psychiatry, 61, 438–448.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Landa, R., Piven, J., Wzorek, M., Gayle, J., Chase, G., & Folstein, S. E. (1992). Social language use in parents of autistic individuals. Psychological Medicine, 22, 245–254.PubMedCrossRef Landa, R., Piven, J., Wzorek, M., Gayle, J., Chase, G., & Folstein, S. E. (1992). Social language use in parents of autistic individuals. Psychological Medicine, 22, 245–254.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Levine, M. (1986). Leiter international performance scale: A handbook. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services. Levine, M. (1986). Leiter international performance scale: A handbook. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
go back to reference Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Jr., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 205–223.PubMedCrossRef Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Jr., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 205–223.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659–685.PubMedCrossRef Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659–685.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Mahoney, W. J., Szatmari, P., MacLean, J. E., Bryson, S. E., Bartolucci, G., Walter, S. D., et al. (1998). Reliability and accuracy of differentiating pervasive developmental disorder subtypes. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 278–285.PubMedCrossRef Mahoney, W. J., Szatmari, P., MacLean, J. E., Bryson, S. E., Bartolucci, G., Walter, S. D., et al. (1998). Reliability and accuracy of differentiating pervasive developmental disorder subtypes. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 278–285.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Murphy, M., Bolton, P. F., Pickles, A., Fombonne, E., Piven, J., & Rutter M. (2000). Personality traits of the relatives of autistic probands. Psychological Medicine, 30, 1411–1424.PubMedCrossRef Murphy, M., Bolton, P. F., Pickles, A., Fombonne, E., Piven, J., & Rutter M. (2000). Personality traits of the relatives of autistic probands. Psychological Medicine, 30, 1411–1424.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Piven, J. (2001). The broad autism phenotype: A complementary strategy for molecular genetic studies of autism. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 105, 34–35.PubMedCrossRef Piven, J. (2001). The broad autism phenotype: A complementary strategy for molecular genetic studies of autism. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 105, 34–35.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Piven, J., Palmer, P., Jacobi, D., Childress, D., & Arndt, S. (1997). Broader autism phenotype: Evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 185–190.PubMed Piven, J., Palmer, P., Jacobi, D., Childress, D., & Arndt, S. (1997). Broader autism phenotype: Evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 185–190.PubMed
go back to reference Piven, J., Wzorek, M., Landa, R., Lainhart, J., Bolton, P., Chase, G. A., & Folstein, S. E. (1994). Personality characteristics of the parents of autistic individuals. Psychological Medicine, 24, 783–795.PubMed Piven, J., Wzorek, M., Landa, R., Lainhart, J., Bolton, P., Chase, G. A., & Folstein, S. E. (1994). Personality characteristics of the parents of autistic individuals. Psychological Medicine, 24, 783–795.PubMed
go back to reference Rutter, M. (2000). Genetic studies of autism: From the 1970s into the millennium. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 3–14.PubMedCrossRef Rutter, M. (2000). Genetic studies of autism: From the 1970s into the millennium. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 3–14.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Scheeren, A. M., & Stauder, J. E. (2008). Broader autism phenotype in parents of autistic children: Reality or myth? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 276–287.PubMedCrossRef Scheeren, A. M., & Stauder, J. E. (2008). Broader autism phenotype in parents of autistic children: Reality or myth? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 276–287.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Shao, Y., Cuccaro, M. L., Hauser, E. R., Raiford, K. L., Menold, M. M., Wolpert, C. M., et al. (2003). Fine mapping of autistic disorder to chromosome 15q11-q13 by use of phenotypic subtypes. American Journal of Human Genetics, 72, 539–548.PubMedCrossRef Shao, Y., Cuccaro, M. L., Hauser, E. R., Raiford, K. L., Menold, M. M., Wolpert, C. M., et al. (2003). Fine mapping of autistic disorder to chromosome 15q11-q13 by use of phenotypic subtypes. American Journal of Human Genetics, 72, 539–548.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Skuse, D. H., Mandy, W. P. L., & Scourfield, J. (2005). Measuring autistic traits: Heritability, reliability and validity of the Social and Communication Disorders Checklist. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 568–572.PubMedCrossRef Skuse, D. H., Mandy, W. P. L., & Scourfield, J. (2005). Measuring autistic traits: Heritability, reliability and validity of the Social and Communication Disorders Checklist. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 568–572.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Sifneos, P. E. (1973). The prevalence of ‘alexithymic’ characteristics in psychosomatic patients. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 22, 255–262.PubMedCrossRef Sifneos, P. E. (1973). The prevalence of ‘alexithymic’ characteristics in psychosomatic patients. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 22, 255–262.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Szatmari, P., Georgiades, S., Bryson, S., Zwaigenbaum, L., Roberts, W., Mahoney, W., et al. (2006). Investigating the structure of the restricted, repetitive behaviours and interests domain of autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 582–590.PubMedCrossRef Szatmari, P., Georgiades, S., Bryson, S., Zwaigenbaum, L., Roberts, W., Mahoney, W., et al. (2006). Investigating the structure of the restricted, repetitive behaviours and interests domain of autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 582–590.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Szatmari, P., MacLean, J. E., Jones, M. B., Bryson, S. E., Zwaigenbaum, L., Bartolucci, G., et al. (2000). The familial aggregation of the lesser variant in biological and non-biological relatives of PDD probands: A family history study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 579–586.PubMed Szatmari, P., MacLean, J. E., Jones, M. B., Bryson, S. E., Zwaigenbaum, L., Bartolucci, G., et al. (2000). The familial aggregation of the lesser variant in biological and non-biological relatives of PDD probands: A family history study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 579–586.PubMed
go back to reference Tani, P., Lindberg, N., Joukamaa, M., Nieminen-von Wendt, T., von Wendt, L., Appelberg, B., et al. (2004). Asperger syndrome, alexithymia and perception of sleep. Neuropsychobiology, 49, 64–70.PubMedCrossRef Tani, P., Lindberg, N., Joukamaa, M., Nieminen-von Wendt, T., von Wendt, L., Appelberg, B., et al. (2004). Asperger syndrome, alexithymia and perception of sleep. Neuropsychobiology, 49, 64–70.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2004). New trends in alexithymia research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 73, 68–77.PubMedCrossRef Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2004). New trends in alexithymia research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 73, 68–77.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., & Parker, J. D. A. (1997). Disorders of affect regulation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., & Parker, J. D. A. (1997). Disorders of affect regulation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., & Parker, J. D. A. (2003). The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. IV. Reliability and factorial validity in different languages and cultures. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 55, 277–283.PubMedCrossRef Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., & Parker, J. D. A. (2003). The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. IV. Reliability and factorial validity in different languages and cultures. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 55, 277–283.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., Ryan, D. P., Parker, J. D., Doody, K. F., & Keefe, P. (1988). Criterion validity of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Psychosomatic Medicine, 50, 500–509.PubMed Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., Ryan, D. P., Parker, J. D., Doody, K. F., & Keefe, P. (1988). Criterion validity of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Psychosomatic Medicine, 50, 500–509.PubMed
go back to reference Tidmarsh, L., & Volkmar, F. R. (2003). Diagnosis and epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 517–525. Tidmarsh, L., & Volkmar, F. R. (2003). Diagnosis and epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 517–525.
go back to reference Wolff, S., Narayan, S., & Moyes, B. (1988). Personality characteristics of parents of autistic children: A controlled study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29, 143–153.PubMedCrossRef Wolff, S., Narayan, S., & Moyes, B. (1988). Personality characteristics of parents of autistic children: A controlled study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29, 143–153.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Yirmiya, N., & Shaked, M. (2005). Psychiatric disorders in parents of children with autism: A meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 69–83.PubMedCrossRef Yirmiya, N., & Shaked, M. (2005). Psychiatric disorders in parents of children with autism: A meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 69–83.PubMedCrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
Alexithymia in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Auteurs
Peter Szatmari
Stelios Georgiades
Eric Duku
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
Jeremy Goldberg
Terry Bennett
Publicatiedatum
01-11-2008
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 10/2008
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0576-4

Andere artikelen Uitgave 10/2008

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 10/2008 Naar de uitgave