Citation

Upthegrove R, Abu-Akel AM, Chisholm K, Lin A, Zahid S, Pelton M, Apperly I, Hansen PC, Wood SJ. Schizophr. Res. 2018; 195: 80-85.

Affiliation

University of Birmingham, School of Psychology, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; University of Melbourne, Centre for Youth Mental Health, 35 Poplar Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Orygen, National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, 2a/2A Hartington Street, Glenroy, Victoria 3046, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.schres.2017.08.028

PMID

28823724

Abstract

There is increasing recognition of the co-occurrence of autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, the clinical significance of this on outcomes such as depression and suicidal thinking has not been explored. This study examines the association of autism spectrum traits, depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour in individuals with psychotic experiences. In two cross sectional studies, individuals from a non-help seeking university student sample and patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) service completed standardized measures of autism spectrum traits, psychotic experiences, depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking. In healthy non-help seeking students, increased autism traits and increased subclinical psychotic experiences were significantly associated with depressive symptoms; a significant interaction effect suggests their combined presence has a greater impact on depression. In FEP, high autism traits and positive symptoms were associated with increased depression, hopelessness and suicidality, however there was no significant interaction effect. In FEP a multiple mediation model revealed that the relationship between autism traits and risk for suicidality was mediated through hopelessness. Young people with subclinical psychotic experiences and all patients with FEP should be screened for autism spectrum traits, which may have significant impact on clinical outcomes. Tailored interventions for patients with high levels of autistic spectrum co-morbidities in FEP should be a priority for future research.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Language: en

Keywords

Autism; Autism spectrum disorders; Depression; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Suicide