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Co-occurrence of autistic and psychotic traits: implications for depression, self-harm and suicidality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2020

Katie N. Sampson*
Affiliation:
College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Rachel Upthegrove
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Ahmad Abu-Akel
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Sayeed Haque
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Stephen J. Wood
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Renate Reniers
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Katie N. Sampson, E-mail: kns475@student.bham.ac.uk

Abstract

Background

There is increasing interest in the clinical and aetiological overlap between autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, reported to co-occur at both diagnostic and trait levels. Individually, sub-clinical autistic and psychotic traits are associated with poor clinical outcomes, including increased depressive symptomatology, self-harming behaviour and suicidality. However, the implications when both traits co-occur remain poorly understood. The study aimed to (1) examine the relationship between autistic and psychotic traits and (2) determine if their co-occurrence increases depressive symptomatology, self-harm and suicidality.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from a self-selecting (online and poster advertising) sample of the adult UK population (n = 653) were collected using an online survey. Validated self-report measures were used to assess sub-clinical autistic and psychotic traits, depressive symptomatology, self-harming behaviour and suicidality. Correlation and regression analyses were performed.

Results

A positive correlation between sub-clinical autistic and positive psychotic traits was confirmed (rs = 0.509, p < 0.001). Overall, autistic traits and psychotic traits were, independently, significant predictors of depression, self-harm and suicidality. Intriguingly, however, depression was associated with a negative interaction between the autistic domain attention to detail and psychotic traits.

Conclusions

This study supports previous findings that sub-clinical autistic and psychotic traits are largely independently associated with depression, self-harm and suicidality, and is novel in finding that their combined presence has no additional effect on depression, self-harm or suicidality. These findings highlight the importance of considering both autistic and psychotic traits and their symptom domains in research and when developing population-based depression prevention and intervention strategies.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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