Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype
Social dysfunctions (SD) are frequently observed in subjects with schizophrenia. Some of these dysfunctions are also observed in other neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), major depression, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer disease. Recently, a characterization of a speci...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.622359/full |
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| author | Davide Palumbo Giovanni Stanghellini Giovanni Stanghellini Armida Mucci Massimo Ballerini Giulia Maria Giordano Paul H. Lysaker Silvana Galderisi |
| author_facet | Davide Palumbo Giovanni Stanghellini Giovanni Stanghellini Armida Mucci Massimo Ballerini Giulia Maria Giordano Paul H. Lysaker Silvana Galderisi |
| author_sort | Davide Palumbo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Social dysfunctions (SD) are frequently observed in subjects with schizophrenia. Some of these dysfunctions are also observed in other neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), major depression, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer disease. Recently, a characterization of a specific type of SD in schizophrenia has been proposed, with the concept of dis-sociality, which form the core aspect of “Schizophrenic Autism” (SA). The present study aimed to explore the presence in people with schizophrenia of SA, independent of other autistic traits, which can be often found in schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We used a structured interview—the Autism Rating Scale (ARS), an instrument devised to detect and measure SA. Fifty-one outpatients affected by schizophrenia (26 remitted, SCZ-r) and 28 affected by bipolar disorder type 1, with psychotic features, in the euthymic phase (BD-e) were recruited. Before assessing the specificity for schizophrenia of SA, we tested the internal consistency, the convergent and divergent validity of the ARS in the schizophrenia sample. Specificity was assessed by examining potential differences in ARS scores between SCZ-r and BD-e subjects. ARS showed good internal consistency, as well as convergent and divergent validity. ARS items were more frequently of moderate severity in SCZ-r than in BD-e subjects. This scale can contribute to establish more precise phenomenal boundaries between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and opens up the possibility of identifying a different type of SD in schizophrenia, independent of autistic traits and negative symptoms, which might benefit from different treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T01:24:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-557751057aca49f0ab1e5a47b714d293 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T01:24:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-557751057aca49f0ab1e5a47b714d2932022-12-21T23:22:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402021-01-011210.3389/fpsyt.2021.622359622359Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia PhenotypeDavide Palumbo0Giovanni Stanghellini1Giovanni Stanghellini2Armida Mucci3Massimo Ballerini4Giulia Maria Giordano5Paul H. Lysaker6Silvana Galderisi7Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Psychological, Humanistic and Territorial Sciences, G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti, ItalyD. Portales University, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Mental Health, Florence, ItalyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, ItalyRichard L Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, ItalySocial dysfunctions (SD) are frequently observed in subjects with schizophrenia. Some of these dysfunctions are also observed in other neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), major depression, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer disease. Recently, a characterization of a specific type of SD in schizophrenia has been proposed, with the concept of dis-sociality, which form the core aspect of “Schizophrenic Autism” (SA). The present study aimed to explore the presence in people with schizophrenia of SA, independent of other autistic traits, which can be often found in schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We used a structured interview—the Autism Rating Scale (ARS), an instrument devised to detect and measure SA. Fifty-one outpatients affected by schizophrenia (26 remitted, SCZ-r) and 28 affected by bipolar disorder type 1, with psychotic features, in the euthymic phase (BD-e) were recruited. Before assessing the specificity for schizophrenia of SA, we tested the internal consistency, the convergent and divergent validity of the ARS in the schizophrenia sample. Specificity was assessed by examining potential differences in ARS scores between SCZ-r and BD-e subjects. ARS showed good internal consistency, as well as convergent and divergent validity. ARS items were more frequently of moderate severity in SCZ-r than in BD-e subjects. This scale can contribute to establish more precise phenomenal boundaries between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and opens up the possibility of identifying a different type of SD in schizophrenia, independent of autistic traits and negative symptoms, which might benefit from different treatments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.622359/fullsocial dysfunctionschizophrenic autismschizophreniaremitted schizophreniaautistic traitseuthymic bipolar disorder |
| spellingShingle | Davide Palumbo Giovanni Stanghellini Giovanni Stanghellini Armida Mucci Massimo Ballerini Giulia Maria Giordano Paul H. Lysaker Silvana Galderisi Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype Frontiers in Psychiatry social dysfunction schizophrenic autism schizophrenia remitted schizophrenia autistic traits euthymic bipolar disorder |
| title | Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype |
| title_full | Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype |
| title_fullStr | Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype |
| title_full_unstemmed | Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype |
| title_short | Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype |
| title_sort | autism rating scale a new tool for characterizing the schizophrenia phenotype |
| topic | social dysfunction schizophrenic autism schizophrenia remitted schizophrenia autistic traits euthymic bipolar disorder |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.622359/full |
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