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Impaired Response Inhibition in Autism Spectrum Disorders, a Marker of Vulnerability to Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2013

Petra S. Barneveld ,
Leo de Sonneville ,
Sophie van Rijn ,
Herman van Engeland  and
Hanna Swaab
Petra S. Barneveld*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Leo de Sonneville
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Sophie van Rijn
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Herman van Engeland
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Hanna Swaab
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Petra Barneveld, Leiden University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: barneveldps@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
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Abstract

In this study, we addressed the relation between specific deficits in cognitive control and schizotypal symptomatology in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) diagnosed in childhood. We aimed to identify cognitive control deficits as markers of vulnerability to the development of schizophrenia spectrum pathology in ASD. Symptoms of autism and the risk for schizotypal symptomatology were assessed in 29 high-functioning adolescents with ASD, and compared with 40 typically developing adolescents. Cognitive control (response inhibition, mental flexibility, visuo-motor control, interference control, and perseveration) was evaluated for specific association with schizotypal symptomatology. Impaired response inhibition appeared to be strongly and specifically associated with schizotypal symptomatology in adolescents with ASD, especially those with positive and disorganized symptoms. Response inhibition problems could indicate vulnerability to the development of schizotypal symptomatology in ASD. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–10)

Keywords

Autism spectrumSchizophrenia spectrumSchizotypyPsychosisExecutive functionsResponse inhibition
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , July 2013 , pp. 646 - 655
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2013 

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