Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment
Due to similar manifestations, some authors have proposed a potential correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This link has long been recognized and debated, with some authors arguing that these disorders frequently occur comorbid but distinct whil...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/1/64 |
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| author | Liliana Dell’Osso Benedetta Nardi Chiara Bonelli Giulia Amatori Maria Alessandra Pereyra Enrico Massimetti Ivan Mirko Cremone Stefano Pini Barbara Carpita |
| author_facet | Liliana Dell’Osso Benedetta Nardi Chiara Bonelli Giulia Amatori Maria Alessandra Pereyra Enrico Massimetti Ivan Mirko Cremone Stefano Pini Barbara Carpita |
| author_sort | Liliana Dell’Osso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to similar manifestations, some authors have proposed a potential correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This link has long been recognized and debated, with some authors arguing that these disorders frequently occur comorbid but distinct while others believe they are part of the same spectrum. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of autistic traits in 55 OCD patients and 55 matched controls and to assess possible autistic dimensions predictive of higher OCD symptoms. All participants were assessed with the Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum-Short Version (OBS-SV) and the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum). The OCD group scored significantly higher in both questionnaires. Total OBS-SV scores and domains were significantly correlated with all AdAS Spectrum domains and total score. The AdAS Spectrum total, <i>Verbal Communication</i> and <i>Inflexibility and adherence to routine</i> domain scores were significant positive predictors of higher OBS-SV scores. Lastly, when two clusters of subjects (<i>high</i> and <i>low autism</i>) were determined, <i>Inflexibility and adherence to routine domain</i> presented the greatest influence in forming the clusters. Our findings support the association between OCD and autistic traits in the adult population, supporting the hypothesis of a neurodevelopmental basis for these psychiatric conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:03:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbda0f5eb7cc412c9c95f0dd1360c85c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:03:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbda0f5eb7cc412c9c95f0dd1360c85c2024-01-26T15:24:41ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-01-011416410.3390/brainsci14010064Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication ImpairmentLiliana Dell’Osso0Benedetta Nardi1Chiara Bonelli2Giulia Amatori3Maria Alessandra Pereyra4Enrico Massimetti5Ivan Mirko Cremone6Stefano Pini7Barbara Carpita8Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyUFSMA Val di Cornia, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 54100 Massa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDue to similar manifestations, some authors have proposed a potential correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This link has long been recognized and debated, with some authors arguing that these disorders frequently occur comorbid but distinct while others believe they are part of the same spectrum. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of autistic traits in 55 OCD patients and 55 matched controls and to assess possible autistic dimensions predictive of higher OCD symptoms. All participants were assessed with the Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum-Short Version (OBS-SV) and the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum). The OCD group scored significantly higher in both questionnaires. Total OBS-SV scores and domains were significantly correlated with all AdAS Spectrum domains and total score. The AdAS Spectrum total, <i>Verbal Communication</i> and <i>Inflexibility and adherence to routine</i> domain scores were significant positive predictors of higher OBS-SV scores. Lastly, when two clusters of subjects (<i>high</i> and <i>low autism</i>) were determined, <i>Inflexibility and adherence to routine domain</i> presented the greatest influence in forming the clusters. Our findings support the association between OCD and autistic traits in the adult population, supporting the hypothesis of a neurodevelopmental basis for these psychiatric conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/1/64obsessive–compulsive spectrumautism spectrum disorderautistic traitssubthreshold autism spectrumcognitive inflexibility |
| spellingShingle | Liliana Dell’Osso Benedetta Nardi Chiara Bonelli Giulia Amatori Maria Alessandra Pereyra Enrico Massimetti Ivan Mirko Cremone Stefano Pini Barbara Carpita Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment Brain Sciences obsessive–compulsive spectrum autism spectrum disorder autistic traits subthreshold autism spectrum cognitive inflexibility |
| title | Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment |
| title_full | Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment |
| title_fullStr | Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment |
| title_short | Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment |
| title_sort | autistic traits as predictors of increased obsessive compulsive disorder severity the role of inflexibility and communication impairment |
| topic | obsessive–compulsive spectrum autism spectrum disorder autistic traits subthreshold autism spectrum cognitive inflexibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/1/64 |
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