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The Association Between Autistic Traits and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Preliminary Findings Among Typically-developing Adults in Israel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

N. Haruvi-Lamdan
Affiliation:
Bar Ilan University, Psychology, Ramat Gan, Israel
S. Lebendiger
Affiliation:
Bar Ilan University, Psychology, Ramat Gan, Israel
O. Golan
Affiliation:
Bar Ilan University, Psychology, Ramat Gan, Israel

Abstract

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Background and aims

Although studies show that those suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face an increased risk of exposure to trauma (bullying, physical abuse), the co-morbidity between autistic symptoms/traits and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was almost entirely neglected by researchers. The aim of this preliminary study is to explore the possible associations between these two conditions among typically-developing college students.

Methods

Participants were 39 students, recruited from 2 Israeli universities. Twenty-four participants were psychology students, and 15 were business administration students. Participants completed self-report questionnaires tapping sociodemographic background, trauma exposure, PTSD (the PTSD Checklist-5, PCL-5), and autistic traits (the Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ).

Results

Our preliminary findings revealed a positive association between symptoms of PTSD and autistic traits. More specifically, among those in the 3rd and 4th highest quartiles of AQ scores, 87.5% met the cut-off score for a probable PTSD diagnosis (χ2 (3) = 8.25, P < 0.05). In addition, t-tests comparing the PTSD and non-PTSD groups showed significant differences in 3 out of 5 AQ sub-scales: social skill (t(37) = –2.12; P < 0.05), attention switching (t(37) = −2.09; P < 0.05) and communication (t(37) = −2.80; P < 0.01). Thus, higher AQ scores were reported by those in the PTSD group.

Conclusions

ASD may serve as a significant risk factor for post-traumatic symptomatology. The associations between these two conditions may be mediated by a variety of potential shared vulnerabilities, including increased rumination, dysregulated emotion and impaired social cognition. Further research is needed in order to explore these mechanisms, as well as to assess co-morbidity in clinical samples of both ASD and PTSD.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster walk: Co-morbidity/dual pathologies and guidelines/Guidance – part 1
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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