TY - JOUR
T1 - Lifetime and Momentary Psychotic Experiences in Adult Males and Females With an Autism Spectrum Disorder
AU - van der Linden, Kim
AU - Simons, Claudia
AU - van Amelsvoort, Therese
AU - Marcelis, Machteld
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the participants, centrum autisme GGzE, GGz Breburg, Apanta GGz and “Nederlandse Vereniging voor autisme (NVA)”. Additionally, we would like to thank Jeroen van Oosterhout, Truda Driesen, Emmy Ottenheijm, Mario Meulendijks, Taco Hübner, Richard van Roy, Jeanine van der Meijden, Kees Spitters, Peggy Gevers, Debora Op ‘t Eijnde, Dafne Op ‘t Eijnde, Sana Erabti, Karel Borkelmans, and Ron Mengelers for their input, management, and assistance in data collection, analysis, proofreading, and technical support.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 van der Linden, Simons, van Amelsvoort and Marcelis.
PY - 2020/8/3
Y1 - 2020/8/3
N2 - Background Existing research shows that adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more vulnerable to develop overt psychosis. However, studies investigating (subclinical) psychotic experiences (PE) in ASD are scarce, and it is unknown if PE are accompanied with more distress in adults with ASD compared to the general population. This study examined lifetime PE and accompanying distress, momentary PE levels, and the impact of daily life stress and negative affect (NA) on momentary PE in males and females with ASD compared to controls. Methods In 50 adults with ASD (males N= 26, females N= 24) and 51 adults without ASD (males N= 26, females N= 25), the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) was used to analyze group differences in frequency and distress of lifetime subclinical positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used to measure momentary PE, NA, and stress (activity-related, event-related, and social stress) for 10 days. Multilevel analyses were conducted to test whether stress and NA were associated with momentary PE and whether these associations were modified by group or sex. Results Adults with ASD reported more lifetime CAPE negative and depressive symptoms, but similar levels of PE, than controls. Higher levels of accompanying distress were found in participants with ASD for each subscale. With respect to ESM momentary PE, higher levels were reported by adults with ASD and a stronger association between event-related stress and momentary PE was found compared to controls. This was not the case for NA, activity-related, and social stress. Overall, no significant differences between male and female outcomes were found. Conclusion Adults with ASD are more prone to encounter lifetime subclinical negative and depressive symptoms and accompanying distress compared to adults without ASD. Similar levels of lifetime PE in both groups were still accompanied with more distress in the ASD group. Furthermore, higher levels of ESM momentary PE were found in participants with ASD. Additionally, event-related stress may act as a risk factor for PE in both females and males with ASD, with a stronger risk-increasing effect than in their control counterparts.
AB - Background Existing research shows that adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more vulnerable to develop overt psychosis. However, studies investigating (subclinical) psychotic experiences (PE) in ASD are scarce, and it is unknown if PE are accompanied with more distress in adults with ASD compared to the general population. This study examined lifetime PE and accompanying distress, momentary PE levels, and the impact of daily life stress and negative affect (NA) on momentary PE in males and females with ASD compared to controls. Methods In 50 adults with ASD (males N= 26, females N= 24) and 51 adults without ASD (males N= 26, females N= 25), the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) was used to analyze group differences in frequency and distress of lifetime subclinical positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used to measure momentary PE, NA, and stress (activity-related, event-related, and social stress) for 10 days. Multilevel analyses were conducted to test whether stress and NA were associated with momentary PE and whether these associations were modified by group or sex. Results Adults with ASD reported more lifetime CAPE negative and depressive symptoms, but similar levels of PE, than controls. Higher levels of accompanying distress were found in participants with ASD for each subscale. With respect to ESM momentary PE, higher levels were reported by adults with ASD and a stronger association between event-related stress and momentary PE was found compared to controls. This was not the case for NA, activity-related, and social stress. Overall, no significant differences between male and female outcomes were found. Conclusion Adults with ASD are more prone to encounter lifetime subclinical negative and depressive symptoms and accompanying distress compared to adults without ASD. Similar levels of lifetime PE in both groups were still accompanied with more distress in the ASD group. Furthermore, higher levels of ESM momentary PE were found in participants with ASD. Additionally, event-related stress may act as a risk factor for PE in both females and males with ASD, with a stronger risk-increasing effect than in their control counterparts.
KW - autism spectrum disorder
KW - stress
KW - psychotic experiences
KW - negative affect
KW - momentary assessment
KW - CLINICAL-HIGH-RISK
KW - GENERAL-POPULATION
KW - PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
KW - SOCIAL-PARTICIPATION
KW - CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY
KW - FUNCTIONING AUTISM
KW - STRESS SENSITIVITY
KW - AFFECTIVE PATHWAY
KW - NEGATIVE AFFECT
KW - SEX-DIFFERENCES
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00766
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00766
M3 - Article
C2 - 32848936
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
M1 - 766
ER -